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RADIO 



SCREEN 



T AGE 




Published- Weekly nt 154 WeBt 4fith St.. New York, N. Y., by Variety. Inc. ApnuaJ subscription, JG. Single copies. 15 cents. 
Entered aa eecona-clasu matter December 22, 1906, at tbe Host OITIce at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3. 11179. 

COrYRIGHT, 1030,'BT VARIETX. INC. A IX RIGHTS RESERVED 



Vol. 124. No. 4 



NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1936 



64 PAGES 








Heafcrs, Et aL, A Tough Racket 





The demise Pf vaudeville, the 
rowth of anti-ev.erything' societies 
and reformers,? .coupled with the in- 
difference of •a;Mase public, have all 
conspired to end the once lucrative 
Business of booking notorious and 
newspaper-famed .characters for 
stage appearances. Sam Burger, erst; 
while king of- /this stepchild end of 
show biz, admits the foregoing is the 
reason he has forsaken his original 
entry into show business. . . 

Gone are the rosy days of the old 
. Hammerstein Victoria when an ex- 
onerated criminal, a newspaper- 
made personality, or anything, with 
sufficient ballyhoo' could pack a the- 
atre. Scandalous" divorces today 
. mean little at the box office. The 
public has become too smart, is 
Burger's lament, to fall for- the 
.phoney' glamour surrounding tabloid 
personages; Event, of a '.man biting a 
dog or the Statue of Liberty sudden- 
ly deciding to take a stroll would 
. hardly be enough to get a rise these' 
.. days. • 
' Blue noses, purity leagues and lo- 
cal constabulary have added the fin- 
. ishihg touches. Censors, officials and 
the clergy have thumbed down any 
venture that smacks of sex, crime or 
scandal. Sweeties of erased torpe- 
' does, widows made so by G-men, 
eriminal juries, parents of wayward 
children, et al., are too often nixed 
to., make the -biz profitable. : Dames 
(Continued on' page 59) 

Tothe ll;K^Emes It's 
Just a News Story, No 
Air Race^ound Globe 

That three- Way news reporter race 
around the wprid may be that to the 
N. Y. World-Teljegram. and the N. Y. 
Journal, but .the N.^Y; Times, the 
• third \ paper -represented, doesn't 
think it's a race, - The- Times, in fact, 
trying hard to, make believe the 
other papers- aren't involved. - Story 
back of which is a polite though, 
nonetheless definite peeve. 
.'Leo- Kieran, Times reporter, 
dreamt up the whole thing. That 
was about a- year ago and it took 
the paper about, six months to make 
Plans,- after the .notion was okayed 
by the Times managing editor, Ed- 
Win James. .Set in all details, the 
Worth American Newspaper Al- 
liance, was called in and set to syn- 
dicate the thing, a story written an- 
nouncing it and sent out to NANA 
Papers for release on Sept. 24, trip 
(Continued on page 62) 

Academic OK (or Sound? 

• ' Greenville,, S. C, Oct. 6. • 
The English department' at The 
Citadel, Military College of S. C„ 
has recordings made of : English 
spoken by its st'udes 'before and 
Wer' taking course. 

ri?^ ea is to determ ' ne whether 
Charleston atmosphere has any 

flarvard' efiect <> n l in g° o f the 
Cadets. 



Male Lure 



Taking a lead from Minsky's, 
in reverse, Delos Chappel, pro- 
ducer of 'Daughters of Atreus,* 
will' try to lure the girls by; 
having male members of the 
. company specially fitted with' 
, costumes that will emphasize 
the male physique. 

Chappell's -idea is to use 
bared shoulders and upper arms 
for the boys that have, muscles 
to show. Muscular legs call' for 
abbreviated leg trappings. Hefty . 
chests mean less adornment on 
that section. Those in the 
scrawny class will get padded 
effects. 

There are 30 males in the 
company. 






Ticket brokers have made buys 
for eight Broadway legit attractions 
so far, but not all the shows con- 
cerned are new. When 'Victoria 
Regina' and 'Idiot's Delight' resumed, 
after summer lay-offs, the agency 
deals were renewed with both. Same 
applies to the 'Follies,' although jn 
revised form. There has been a buy 
on 'On Your Toes' since early jn its 
run. 

Of the new shows with buys, 'Re- 
flected Glory' is the livest. Brokers 
also made a deal for 'Night Must 
Fall,' which turned in a fairly strong 
first week. 'Love From a Stranger,' 
its opposed thriller from London, 
was given a six week buy by the 
agencies, despite the fact that it drew 
a weak press. 

D'Oyly Carte Gilbert and Sullivan 
troupe from London is also on a 
buy basis for the revivals. Attrac- 
tion has been drawing so strongly 
that the brokers changed their minds 
after" waiting until the troupe 
opened. 



Testing Road Prospects 
Of Play in New York 



' " Maurice Barber, who produced 
'Love oh the Dole,' last season', is 
giving the play a three-week test in 
subway circuit around New York. If 
it seems to have any kind of pull, 
he'll send it out on the .road, con- 
centrating especially in Canada. 

Barber has started negotiations 
with Mary Ellis for the lead in 'The 
Cigar Smoker,' play by the late 
Marie Jenney Howe and Rose Young. 
Piece has to do with George Sande, 
and Miss Ellis would handle that 
role if deal goes through. 



Three Major News Services? 
$3,000,000 From Radio in 
'36— Survey Shows 125% 
Dollar ' Volume Increase 

. in Year— At Least ' One 
News; Sponsor' oh Every 
Station 



WOR'S $385,01)0 



Furnishing news for broadcasting 
purposes has become million dollar 
business. It is estimated that the 
three major news services catering to 
radio will jointly do better- than 
$3,000,000 for 1936.' As for the -said 
of news to commercials and the 
time involved in "broadcasting such 
programs, . indications are that the 
revenue derived from such sources 
by radio stations this year will ex- 
ceed' $15,000,000. 

Survey, jnade recently by a major 
ad agency disclosed that the dollar 
volume on news programs bought by 
local and national commercials during 
the first eight months of 'this year 
was almost 125% over what it had' 
been for the parallel period of 1935. 
The probe was- conducted pre- 
liminary to approaching a major na- 
tional advertiser on a campaign that 
would entail the use of from two 
to three news periods a day on some 
130 stations. - • 

Findings by the agency showed 
that while oil companies topped the 
list of newscast bahkrollers, the most 
consistent local buyers of that prod- 
uct were department stores. Survey 
revealed that the use of three quar- 
(Continued on page 62) 



SAX ON WAY 
OUT-DAVIS 



Msyer Davis, dance band impre- 
sario, opines that the sax is fast giv- 
ing way to brass as the No. 1 instru- 
ment in the field of dansapation. T1)C 
vogue for emphasizing rhythm has, 
in Davis' opinion, turn-ed the tables 
on the saxophone. 

In most cases, finds Davis, the sax's 
reed is not quick enough to provide 
the instantaneous response necessary 
for giving 'lift' to a rhythm. Because 
of this handicap, it is hard to get a 
reed section to execute at all times a 
similar degree of 'lift,' with the re- 
sult that there is a sort of logy un- 
dercurrent which robs the orchestral 
performance of the important ele- 
ment of precision. This saxophone 
fault, he. contends, places an .addi- 
tional burden on other Instruments, 
particularly the brass. . • 

Davis describes the Innovation of 
swing as a relief rather than a cure 
for the ailing interest in dance 
music 



One Firm's Record Biz Juitips 






9 !*• 




King's CnQice\bn/Pix 



London, Oct. r<5; 
King Edward is Maintaining 
the family tradition as a mo- 
tion picture enthusiast 7 and, 
during his 1 , holiday stay -?t • Bal- 
onoral, Scotland, has command- 
ed special vlewings . of recejnt 
^pictures in the -theatre which 
' has been put lip-ihEide -the 
xoyal residence. ( -- • • 
'Mr. Deeds' Goesr-tp. ^own,' 
- (Col.),;'As You Like It'-<20thV 
, .Fox) , .;My Man': Qpdf rey' • 0).- 
•• and 'Our Relations'.' 4MGM) . 
"are among .'the pictures shipped 
to Balmoral for.. His Majesty's, 
approval; . 






Tacoma, Oct. 6, 

America's first arid only State the- 
atre will open in the near future 
here. Washington State theatre, 
founded by Rockefeller Founda- 
tion of N. -Y., the . Washington 
Department or Public Instruction 
and the Repertory 'Playhouse, will 
present a road show production^pf 
Shakespeare's farce, 'Comedy^eif Er- 
rors,' in some of the i0 major cities 
pf the. state, which will Serve a3 
centers for theatregoers and students 
from surrounding communities. 

Performances in this' district are 
planned for November and Decem- 
ber, exact dates to. be announced 
later. ..'-".' 

State Theatre is unique in America, 
and has few counterparts elsewhere 
in the world in that it is a division of 
the State Department -of Education.' 
Its activities are directed by an ad- 
ministrative committee appointed by 
this board. 

Only stage productions of -top cali- 
ber will be produced*, featuring good 
casts, settings, costumes and light- 
ing. Grant from . the Rockefeller 
Foundation is assisting the Slate 
Theatre in preliminary experiments, 
but it will operate on' a self-sustain- 
ing basis, it is claimed. 



Another Farewell Tour For 
Lauder, Maybe-But on Air 

•London, Oct. 6. 

Before sailing for' hPme, William 
Morria, Jr., visited Sir 'Harry Lauder 
in Perth, and the result is that the 
Scotchman may go over to the U. S. 
this season. ; \ 

This time Lauder's American en- 
gagements may be on the radio In- 
stead of the usual 'farewell tour' in 
theatres. William Morris office has 
an air deal for him, If he cares to 
go over and accept.' 



« . An extraordinary renaissance in 
the phonograph- business, almost ap- 
proaching the parity of the so-called 
good old pre-radio days, is seen by 
Eli.Oberstein, RCA-Victor recording 
chief,, who cites the company's- busi- 
ness has been 300% oyep. last Sep- 
tember. TJhe Victor record business 
has always been the standard-bearer 
of the -industry. ^ ,';:' 

Last .Spring: Victor upped 100%; 
this past slimmer $he ratio increased 
to 200% • and, this .past month the 
new: peak . was\ reached; . Victor is 
selling 'i;220,0Qd records a month, of 
which 0O.%„ are the cheaper releases, 
the .Blue Bird/brand,, at 25c, which 
is aSc,ribed.;to. be a salient .factor in 
the ..geaerat ■improvement' m the 
record biwinesj?. -. Tb.e remaining 40% 
is. divided ; between! the popular 
'blacjc iafe^- yiptor record at 75c and 
the te^-searcla8.sies,-'M?hich are $1 to 
$2.50.. Victor reoVseaT business, witti 
its cream of the crop pi the world's 
immortal vocal. and instrumentalists, 
has stood up. always through all 
sorts of conditions. 

To further 'break down the figures, 
700,000- cheap diiikB at 25c and 400,- 
000 pops (75e) and red-sealers, has 
been the ratio , this' past month. In 
November Victor anticipates 300,00a 
red-seal sales, alone, as part of the 
pre-holiday rush, and up to 1,000,000 
records a month in the pop classifi- 
cations, , 

The'' basic whyfore of this im? '■ 
proved ratio 'finds its answer in two 
(Continued on page G3) 



AIR AGENCY MANNED 
BY GERMAN REFUGEES 



Talent agency manned entirely by 
refugees from Nazi Germany has 
been set up in Manhattan by Gustav 
Nedow, ex-German publisher. Out* 
fit works only in radio, under name 
of Germahia Broadcast, but may hit 
the concert field in time. Currently 
it has nine programs, on New York 
foreign language airers, one of thenl 
sponsored by Alka-Seltzer. 

Program production for Teutonic 
broadcasts is a new wrinkle not 
(Continued on page 62) 



Stompiri' at the Polls 



"■' Philadelphia, Oct. 0. 

Now It's' swing music in politics. 

Instead of traditional brass bands, 
local Democratic nabobs are signing 
leading, dance crews to' Seep crowds 
in rhythfil at political . rallies. Red 
Gresh, well known here after long' 
engagement at Pierre's Roof, will 
bring 15 men to -ally, at Academy of 
Music Oct. 15 and Jimmy Lunceford 
with 18 men will toot for colored 
pow-wplv Qct, 23. Wan signaturing 
number of others for rallies. 

Ideas is brainchild of Philly's 
Deputy Controller Joe Kelly, local 
Democratic campaign manager and 
former scribe. Since he's only 34, 
maybe he knows what awing is. 



2 VASIETV 



PICT IIES 



Wednesday, October 7, 1936 




.state 

To Widow; Bequests to Relatives 



Los Angeles, Oct 8. 

Irving ThalbergVjfortuhe, estimat- 
ed variously at' from $4,000,000 to 
$10,000,000, Is, left in trust to his 
■widow, ETormia Shearer* Under terms 
of his wiU filed last-Saturday (3) for 
probate,. ... 

Residue of:' the 'estate Is. ordered 
divided mto' several funds, f© be ad- 
ministered by the trustees, who are 
also designated co-executors. They 
include Miss Shearer, Edwin J. Loeb 
of Los Angeles and the Bank of 
America National Trust <& Savings 
Association. 

Thalberg will was made June 12, 
1933, drawn by Loeb, Walker & Loeb, 
attorneys,, and designates- that co- 
executors and trustees serve without 
bond* It reads in part as follows: 

'It is my Inteniion to dispose of 
the whole of my property and estate, 
Including in such disposition ' not 
only my separate estate and one-half 
of , any- " community 1 property > over 
which I have the/power of testa- 
mentary disposition^ but' as well the 
other half Of such c'ornmunity prop- : 
erty over which I have no- absolute 
right of testamentary' disposition;; and 
my wife shall and must elect whether 
'she will take ahd'feceivo the "benefits 
which are' provided for her under 
thus. 'Will, or the rights, and property 
interests with which the law invests 
herein and' to our -community' prop- 
erty/'; ' -• ; ■ ; ; 

The Thalberg. residence in, Santa 
Monica is bequeathed to fhe' widow, 
together with all' fuxmture, furnish- 
ings, auto'mbhttesj' jewelry, boats and 
othe'f' personal enacts;. 1 !. Bequests to. 
• relative afe: ' , . ■ 

?10,v00 Each: to Sin 

i Haltie Heck, a icousta; Abe Hey- 
manri, uncle; Dora Heyrnanri, aunt, 
and Morris Heymani^ another uncje, 
aU-'Of'New York, and Jetchen Maier* 
an aunt residing in Germany, $10,000 
eachY '\ -' .. '.''"" ' ' 

Document recites that a trust fund 
had previously been: created for the 
benefit.;, of Thalberg's . father : . and 
i mother, William and Henrietta Thal- 
. berg, with the will- setting aside a 
sufficient amount to nave this, trust 
reach' value Jof $150 4 Q00; 'in addi- 
tion, to this specific becjuesfc' Thalberg 



had previously provided life endow- 
ments for his- parents in the form of 
an' additional "trust -fund, - insurance 
annuities and investment securities. 

Residue of the estate, will directs, 
is to be divided into funds* as fol- 
lows:—.' ' ' •• ■/'"••' 

Fund One, consisting of property 
of a fair market value of- $100,000, all 
net income from 1 which Is to be paid 
monthly -to his v sister,- Sylvia Thal- 
berg Weingarten, as long as she lives. 

Fund Two, consisting of property 
of a fair market value equal to one-, 
third of all the. balance of She trust 
after the establishment of Fund One. 
All net income from this, fund shall 
be paid to Miss Shearer as long as 
shelves. ,. 

Fund' Three v shall - be allocated to. 
each child living at '-fee time, of the 
distribution 'of the residue of the es- 
tate, and one fund<to lite descendants;, 
of any child dead; but survived by 
descendants. The ne^ income de- 
rived from' each ' fund is to be paid 
monthly or ^quarterlyv 

Come Into Fond at 35 

As each child reaches the age of 35 
there shall be conveyed to him the.' 
whole of such. . chijd's. fund, then re- 
maining. WiU specifies, that this" 
trust . shall finally terminate upon the 
•occurrence of any; of the following' 
contingencies^ ' . 

. Whenever the widow; and sister are 
both dead and no child then surviv- 
ing is under 35. 

Upon- ,thf death of ^ the last sur- 
vivor |£>f the wife, Ulster and all of 
•their, children. ■ •', '• . 

No estimate of the size of the es- 
tate is mentioned iftihe will. s Attor- 
neys .Farrand . & iSlossom represent 
Miss Shearer, f ' . '.■•'' '■. '' 

Raft-Tamirotf Teamed 

Hollyjrood, -Qct. v 6. . 
George Raft seems certain to do 
his stuff in 'Caviar- for His Excel- 
lency,', Charles. G. Booth story at 
Paramount. AMm Tamiroff will be 
co-featured. ' ' Preston • Sturges will 
do the- screen , play, William iLe 
Baron producing, personally.. 



Faithful Detail 



Hollywood, Oct. 6. 
An alleged ex-safe cracker, ' 
plajring 4 part in 'Penrod'arid 
Sam/ ' at Warners studio be- 
came disgusted when an actor 
started putting the juice to a 
' strongbox, ■ ' 
; He kicked, .to the! producer 
arid consequently was given* the 
job as technical advisor on the 
picture. 




STATEMENT OF' TtUB OWNERSHIP. 
Ttf ANAOBMENT. CI.HCTJLATI ON. 
ETC.. REQUIRED BY THB ACT OF 
CONGRESS, OF MARCH 3. 1033. . 
Of 'V»dfty» tmMIahea weakly^t New 
-Turk, N. T..W ©ettfber 1. W46. *<•• i 
. 8tatt ;# New Tor*, «Cdira,ttf' of New. 

... T«tji,- •'■' ';'''•• v ' 

Before 'ine, a Nbis^ labile In Add for 
the .'State utd County, aforesaid, person- 1 
mljjr Appeared Harold Brtche, who, hav- 
ing ; been daly sworn, ' according to (aw. 
deposesiand says that. be -1b the business 
Wkdaser of Variety, and that the fol- 
lowing. Is, to the lest' of hi* fcnoirlejlEje 
and 'belief, a true statement of the 
".ownership, management, etc, of the 
aforesaid publication tor. the date shown 
- In the above caption, required by the 
Act of March 9.: 1033. embodied in Section 
037, Postal Taws and Regulations, printed 
on 'the reverse of this form, to wit:. 
■ 1. That the names and- addresses . of 
' the publisher, editor, managing editor, 
and business manager,-' are' ,<. 
Publisher— Variety, ihfe; 164 West 46th 

street. New Torlt city. 
Editor— Sldrte Silverman, 154 West 40th 

street. New York city.- V 
Managing; Editor — None. * 
Business' Manager— Harold Erlchs, 164 

W. 46th street, New York city. 
.2. That the owners are: Variety, Inc., 
.164 West 4Gth street. New Torlt city. 
Sldne Silverman, 164 West 46th street, 
New York City. Estate of Slm'e '.Silver- 
man', 1-54 West 46th street, New ' Torlt 
city. 

3. ' That, the known bondholders, mort- 
gagees and other security holders own- 
fog or holding 1 per cent or more of 
total amount of bonds, mortgages or 
other securities, are: None. 

4. . That the two paragraphs next 
above, giving the names of the owners, 
stockholders and security holders. If any.. 

. contain not only the Hat of stockhold- 
ers and .security holders as. they appear 
Upon the books of ' the company, but 
also, In- cases where the 'stockholder or 
'security-holder appears upon the books 
of the company an trustee or Ir any 
other fiduciary relation, the name of the 
person-' or corporation for whom such 
trustee Is acting, is given. a,lso that the 
■aid two paragraphs contain statements 
embracing affiant's ful* knowledge and 
belief -.as to the circumstances and con- 
ditions - under which stockholders and 
security holders who do not appear upon 
the books of the company as trustee! 
hour stopk .and securities in a capacity 
other than that' of a bona fide owner: 
and . this afflant has no reason to be- 
lieve that any Other person, association 
or corporation has any interest, direct 
.or Indirect, . in the said stock, bonds or 
other securities than as so stated by 
him. 

C. That the Average. number of copies - 
of each' Issue' of this 'publication sold or 
distributed, through th* mails or other-' 
-wise, to paid -subscriber* during the 
months preceding -the date shown above 
is (This Information |s required 

from dally publications only.) , , ..' 

Harold Erlchs, 

Business Manager, 
fiwprri' tb And subscribed before -nw 
this S9th day of September, 1836. 

' Nathan .Newman, 

Notary Public. 
CMy commlseloa expires March J», 1931.) 



HERSHX1EII>3 STINT 

Harry .Heirshfield "hag been set by 
Warners on 'a Igeneral writing con- 
tract' fdf 13 weeks,' starting - Oct 19. 

Cartoonist^ will leave 1 New York 
for the Coast on Sunday ' (13). He 
will conttoue bis King Features syn- 
dication from there. 1 ' 



Edward L. Alperson, • 
Joseph Bentonelli. 
Sidney BiddeTl, 
John Boles.: 
Eddie Buz?elt. 
Buddy Cantor." 
Jean Chatburn, . 
John D: Cla'rk, 
Harry Cohn. 
Carit. Billy, FaWcett 
Tay <Jarnett 
Harry Hershfield. 
Aben KandeL 
Judith KandeL 
Paul Lewis. 
Edward J. iMcNamara 
Frank Orsatti. 
Harold Rodiler. 
.Joseph Schrahk: . ' 
Paul Schwegler. • 



L. A. to N. 

Harold Adamson. 
Ann Beresford. 
Irvin S. Cobb. . 
R. H. Cochrane. 
Richard Dix. 
Melvyn Douglas. 
Peggy Doyle. 
Irene Dunne. 
Florence Eldridge. 
Helen Flint. 
Fred Fralick. 
Bert Kalmar, 

Jerome Kern. ' 
Charles La Torre, 
Anita Louise. 
Fredric " March. 
Michael Markham. - 
Jimmy McHugh, 
James Melton. 
John Mlljan. 
Henry Mollison. 
Abe Montague. . 
Karen Morley.' 
Raymond Rubicam^ * 
Rosalind RusselL:" '•'' " ' 
Jerome- Safron. * 
William' Thalberg. -i ; 
Johnny Weissmuller. 
William Wyler. 



Doll House M 
Is $218,000 So Far 



Salt Lake City, Oct 6. 

Colleen Moore has shown her doll 
house in 28 cities in the- last year and 
a half , and it has earned $218,000 for 
crippled children, the former film 
flapper disclosed While here. 

After the doll house has been 
placed on exhibition in every prin- 
cipal American city she plans to take 
it abroad. She visualizes a gross' up 
to $1,000,000 trom the fees charged to 
ogle the miniatures of famous paint- 
ings, sculpture,- furniture, decora- 
tions and jewelry, costing Miss: 
Moore nearly $500,000, Which went 
into construction of the fairyland. 

-A press agent, usually three weeks 
to a month ahead of the attraction, 
lines up. crippled children's hospitals 
and sirmlar institutions in cities where 
stops' are made. In Salt Lake City 
three hospitals received approxi- 
mately $2,500 for their co-sponsor- 
ship. Newspapers devoted reams' of 
copy, art and features about house. 
Women's and men's service^ civic and 
educational clubs are tied in. 



EXTRAS' FIECO DAYS 



Par and 20th Use. Flock of Help Last 
; . Week— 750-1,000 DMiy . 

, ' Hollywood, Oct. %. 

Picture extras had several, field 
days, last week. Frank Lloyd,, pro 
ducer-director on 'Maid ol .Sjalem.' at 
Paramount, used 750.. to l„O0Q daily. 

Twentieth-Fox. also,; set ifp .a. sea ; 
son record by hiring 1^00 oh vari- 
ous productions. 'Lloyds of London,' 
absorbed 500; .'Reunion,'. .300, and 
'Stowaway,' the Shirley Temple film, 
150,. with remainder, scattered on 
three other pix. 



Hash and Rehash 



ARRIVALS \ 

N. Y. to L.' Ak..' '^Sergei BarsUkoiff, Constance Hope, 

'1 !L-|-€Korgid. Polacco, Dr. anct Mrs. Artur 

Rodzinski, Adama Didur, Ryszard. 
Ordynski, . feiifg e'ii e Bpdo, ' Sofia 
Nakoneczna,' Robert E. " Sherwood, 
Aben and Judith' i^dejC Ptiii' Reis- 
man, Frederick Lonsdale,. Mr. and 
Mrs. Robert Woolsey. jpthel Merman, 
Mr. and Mrs. Francis "Martin, Cortr 
land Smith, Mis.'. Harry Cohn, Sam 
E. Morris, Tay Garnett, Carl 
Laemmle, Jr., Carl Laemmle, Mrs. 
G. E. Calthrop, Lotte Lehmann, 
Otto Krause, Kurt Jooss, Jooss Bal- 
let, Helen .Kane, Gertrude Wetter-, 
gren, Noel Coward,, Jphn C. Wilson, 
Dick Powell, Joan Blondell, Dezso 
Szenes, _ Jack L.. Warner, Miriam 
Hopkins, Sanford Greenburgher, 
Jack Ross, Clare" Luce. - . 



SAILINGS 

Oct. 17 {London to New York) 
Gilbert Miller (Europa). 

Oct. 7 (London to New York) 
Ruth Etting, Col. Moe Snyder, Paul 
Soskin, Nat Nazarro, Jack Cohn, 
William Morris, Jr., Harry Foster.. 
Val Parnell (Nqrmandie). 

Oct! 7 (London to New York) 
Gertrude Lawrence '(Aquitania). 

Oct. 7 (Cherburg to Havana) Bal- 
let Espagnol, Juan Martinez, Sole- 
dad, Juanito, Carmelita, . Antomta, 
Isabella, Rosarita, Castillana, Amaya, 
Morales, Bobadilla, Cortijo, Sarasina, 
Mar quit a, Castanagro, SeyiUana, 
Vizcaino; Zanouba (Orinoco). 

Oct. 5 (New York to/London) 
Johnny Weismuller, Babs\La Val 
(Queen Mary). 

Oct 3 (New York to -London) Ray 
Perkins (Georgic). 

*^Oct. 1 (New York' London) 
HeienJerome (Berengar 
' SepC-3Q (New York to L6hdbn> 
Otto- Klenitlfirerj Mrs. Edward'' G, 
Robinson- 5 CNor mandie ). 

Oct 5 (Franfcfprt- to Nej^ ' York) 
Jimmy Campbell' OHindenburg). 



By JOE BIGEtOW 



Lo, the Poor Indian 

'The 250 Indians in Hollywood who make a living working in pictures 
have, complained to the U. S. Attorney's office over""aiIeg"ed disenmina- 
tion. They declare palefaces are getting jobs that should %o tor McCoy 
injuns, and they want the phoney redskins haled beforWthevbax- of justice 
for impersonating theni,'— Variety news item. • yS* My/*:-* 

Lo, the Poor Indian, has a squawk: 

He's not being treated fairly. 
They're shunning him and. his tomahawk— ~~ 
For Lo they're not casting squarely. ' : <' ' 

. . • ... 1J»1- ' IV 

Redman' still grabs off heap- much jobs, wwi 
. : : But the thing that irritates Lo • «-.4 •(••.*: '.•.'• • 
Is. that redmen appearing in Hollywood' inibbs '■ : < 
Are not named. Lo, but Moe. 



It's a Lie 

Callander, Ont— There's no trUth in the story that the J3ionne quin- 
tuplets are sore at 20th Century-Fox over the casting of their latest pic- 
ture. Report, later' proved false, was that the gu>ls^'jal|toUgh; admiring 
Jean Hersholt as an artist, wanted '20th to hire Robert: Taylor to play |he 
doctor this time. ' 



■ •.-■■». *• -. .'V<.' ■ ■' - 

. How to Be an Artists', Representative. ^ <- 

. (Lesson No. 1) ; ,. '-; ,.>■ ■ - -. • • 
• The first thing to determine is- whether you are- equipped with the' right 
temperament for being an agent. Try a little 'experiment, sUch as kicking 
a few old ladies around. If, after thaf you 'have satisfied yoUrself. that 
you are suited to the business, /then proceed with your homework.' 

The first thing you must learn about" is cornmission.' Wot : ' the Boxing 
Commission, the Transit Commission or the Federal 'Commuhicatidhs' Com- 
mission — just plain, good, old-fashioned commission. To get the proper per- 
spective, start out in a small way, s>y, by charging your little son. or daugh- 
ter 10%. for an introduction to Santa Claus at Macy's. 

Next step on your way to a diploma involves the sending off telegrams. 
When you go to the telegraph- office to send a wire, the clerk will inquire: 
'Is this to go prepaid?' 
You reptyr*I I: 'sir, am an agent' • . ' . .;"L*' % . 

The,.clerk will respond with, J An agent? . Then I ..gues| it f gi^s'oOlIect.' 
Remember to send all wires collect One slip-up means a demerit,- and 
you may have to start your lessons all over again. . .. 

Never tell an actor that you can't do anything for him. Actors, as a 
rule, are inclined to have weak hearts. Always try utp-.ikeep .up their 
spirits^ and remember- that it's your duty to guard them, against sudden 
grief. You can always recognize sudden grief in abactor* for the first 
symptom comes when he asks for a release. This can be. > prevented by- 
your continually repeating the magic words, i.e, * Tnti working on it I'll 
leave you know when it's set' . • ; -v 

But above all, don't be careiess with the morning mecil. - Before being 
tdssed into the "wastebasket all letters -and- envelopes, should be thoroughly 
shaken. You never can tell when a. money order will fall- out. 
. That ought to hold you' until next week. Lesson NO. 2 will be entitled: 

'Sheriff, Stay Away From My Boor/ ' • 

. •> ^ . 

. Missed . ' , 
. Jollopy, Mo. — 'Australian Wood Peckers, whip and knife 'throwing act, 
after -being a. hit all week here, missed the final performance at -the Opera 
House here,- due to injury. Just before the last show ' the 'head knife- 
thrower had an accident in his dressing room. ~ He cut : himself while 
shaving. 



Start a File 

Be a gag man! Write radio scripts! Start now! The following Is a list, 
of punch lines, more or less, of w.k. (also a,k.) jokes. We' supply the' 
answers; you .supply the questions: 

'It's me, Wd I'm riot foolin.7 

'Don't mind : him» officer— he's drunk.' 
-•" "Then kiss the Ford and let's get out of here.' 

'Whadya mea'n, I swore at him? All I said was, 'I see you're sunk in the 
ditch'.' 

'— — r — and the. horse lost 48/ 
'Can I help it if he worries?' ' , 
'The doctor told me to watch my stomach/ 
'Give me six good reasons why you dott't want any soup.' 
'How did I know he was after, my pocketbook?' • 
• 'Goodbye, Sam/ 



For Lazy Pickets ' '.' '' .' 

New York— Ali Opp, magician, who is among the adto^'^lcketirig .Br'oadr. 
way picture theatres for return of stage shoWs, has MAughit' up £ brand ; 
new fllusion. When tired, the picket says a few niagical vV6,i'ds , ; 'th 1 e' sign 
then gets down and carries the picket. 

Diary of an Agent 
(Uncensored) 

Oct; 1— Well, diary, I'm still tryin' to crash this radio^r^^^is.mtorriin' 
a guy from the Button, Dutton, Fadeout & Moskowftz affilreStisIn^ agency 
called up about my new singer Enrique Madaginsburg. Said the sponsor 
hasn't made up his mind yet, but how much do I want for my singer. I said 
$1,500. . The agency guy started to beef, so I 'compromised'foi' i $175. What's 
the diff, the real gravy comes from personal appearances anyways. Then 
the agency guy says, 'You understand that a .15%' agency service lee is 
customary/ I says .okay by me (what else could I say?) because the cus- 
tomary's always" right Then- he says, 'And as the booking must pass 
through a member of the agency to make it official, that will be an addi- 
tional 10%/ I told him to go ahead and close the deal so long as we wind 
up with a box of soda crackers. Say, I always thought the indie vaude- 
ville boys knew how to chisel. Compared to them these radio guys are 
Michael Angelos. 

Oct 2r— Agency called. Said the sponsor is changing his product Instead 
of soda crackers that don't crackle, which didn't sell, he's gonna make soda 
crackers that crackle twice as loud as any others on the market. The 
Crackers That Speak for Themselves' is the new slogan. And seem* as 
how the sponsor is startin' all over from scratch, says the advertisin' 
agency guy, it's only cricket that my boy Ginzy should do likewise and 
give another audition. 

Oct 3— My -boy Ginzy gave , another audition. This time the sponsor 
left his fresh kid home but brought along his uncle. Unk is an idea man. 
Said he's got a great idea for a jungle series an' wanted to know if Ginzy 
could make a noise like Tarzan calling to his mate. Said they'd leave me 
know. 

Oct 5 — No word from the agency. Looks like the silent treatment to 
beat the price down, .... . ' ' ' 

(To be continued) 



Karen Morley's Next 

. ., . . Hollywood, Oct 6. . 

Following a three-day vacation in. 
New York'.with her husband Charles 
Vidpr,.. Karen Mqrley returns here 
to start, work in 'Happiness Pre- 
ferred^ fpjrJWajor, Pictures." ', . . 

She signed term contract with out- 
fit last week. 



. Cukor Abroad 

, , . Hollywood, Oct. 6. 

When George. Clukqr winds up pro- 
duction of' 'Camilie'' at Metro, he will 
go abroad on an, extended vacation 
before taking,, another _.directorfal, as- 
signment \V V ,.. . . ,'. 

•'Camilie' will be finished in three 
weeks. 



Wednesday, October 7, 1936 



P I C ¥ 



E S 



VARIETY 



H'WOOD ON 




Hock of Film Stars on Air Now 



With the big parade of picture stars on network radio programs 
getting under full steam last week, exhibitors now feel that their 
advance objections to the spread of the habit was fully justified. 
It was in anticipation of exactly what happened with air programs in 
the last 10 days that the campaign of exhibs was started months ago 
in an effort to curb radio-minded film artists. 

At the time ^that- the first exhibitor associations in the" middle west 
took' action against the widespread use of picture-^stars on nation, 
wide - broadcasts, it was largely a fear that the habit might spread 
that prompted the Initial squawks.- 

Since then, exhlb organizations and individual theatre operators 
have come out against the practice. And their worst fears now ap- 
pear to have -been justified. One exhibitor leader yesterday said that 
nearly half of the leading players on really big network programs 
were from the .picture industry. 

Not only that, but radio artists, who heretofore have generally 
been recognized as being of and from radio; now plug the fact that 
they are in pictures or bally why they are. out in Hollywood. 

Practically all daita.for.the Hays office survey on radio "as it affects 
the picture business now has been, collected but the completed sur- 
vey is far from ready. Tabulation of factual material,, compilation of 
statistics and thorough. analysis has yet to be finished. Probably won't 
be available for several weeks. 



Agentitis Also Hits the Eastern 
Front; Pix Co. s Peeved at liters 




Eastern , talent departments of ma- 
jor companies are cracking- down on 
agents who have developed reputa- 
tions for juggling artists so that the 
film producer, originally interested, 
sometimes •. is left out in the cold. 
The picture executives are peeved at 
this two-timing. Several potentials 
have slipped through 1;heir hands by 
last-minute " switches in negotiations 
■which often have witnessed the 
Hollywood prospects going- to rival 
companies.- 

-Understood that nearly all of the 
majors will make some pact which 
would place these agents on an un- 
fair, list,' There, are some 10 agents 
s in N. Y. city doing the bulk of place- 
ment of artists in pictures. Of this 
number -two or three are certain to 
get the cold-shoulder treatment. - No 
attempt will be made . to interfere 
with the ethical agent, but it n&w 
is known that at least two eastern 
.talent divisions will be backed to the 
limit in their new attitude toward 
unfair agency . practices by chief 
executives. 

. Alleged unfair tactics by the two 
or three agents has amounted to the 
old trick of pitting one major com- 
pany against another in bidding for 
services. .. The talent chiefs do not 
object to this, but they are irked by 
the steps pursued in carrying out 
the practice. Chief stunt is to. tell 
an artist , not to sign with a com- 
pany .after tests '. .have been made 
and final /signature' is about to be 
put ori the. line. 



SCULLY'S HUSH LOVER' 
MAYBE CROSBY'S AT PAR 



'. Hollywood, Oct. 6. 

Frank Scully' is huddling with 
Paramount for purchase of his new 
book, 'Irish Lover,' as a possible film 
for Bing Crosby.- 

Novel is based on life of Chauncey 
Olcott and would give the crooner a 
chance to sing the old Irish ballads. 
Scully spent three years collecting 
data for book which will be off press 
in short time. 



.N. O. Ban on 'Ecstasy' 

• t New Orleans, Oct. 6. 

Ecstasy,' booked to open at the 
Strand here Thursday (1), has been 
cancelled. 

Opposition by several organiza- 
tions took their fight against showing 
of the film here to Mayor Maestri 
and Archbishop Hummel, and the 
management of the Strand agreed to 
withdraw the film without further 
controversy. 



BEGIS TOOMEY'S PLAY YEN 

Regis Toomey is in New York on 
pi!y Cash and als0 l00kin S for a stage 

•Actor got in last week from the 
M)ast and will stay around New 
*ork about ^ month# 



Pic Leads for Bway? 

. Hollywood, Oct. 6. 

Richard Dix planed to New York 
Oct. 3 to huddle with Don Carle Gil- 
lette regarding the lead- in 'In the 
Bag? legit play,- on Broadway. 

Producer also is angling with 
Warners to obtain Joan Blondell for 
the femme lead. 



MET ORIOLES 
HAVE PIX YEN 



Rosa Ponselle is so intent on mak- 
ing' a picture on the "Coast that she 
may forego any appearance at the 
Metropolitan Opera, N. Y., this sea- 
son. She's signed for opera, but the 
organization has been requested not 
to insist on a date, if she goes before 
the cameras. 

Diva has been out in Hollywood 
most of the past summer, reducing, 
studying and keeping in trim in gen- 
eral. She came east a short time to 
broadcast, visited the Edward John- 
son office at the Met and huddled 
with him on the matter. She'd like 
to do a drawing room comedy; plus 
some singing stanzas. 

Paul Lewis of Columbia Concerts 
is out on the Coast handling film 
contacts for Joseph Bentonelli and 
Angna Enters. Former tenor at Met- 
ropolitan Opera, . N. Y., is being 
tested by Republic. Several studios 
are eyeing .the dance mime. Benton- 
elli planes back directly. 



ATES AND 2 HOOFERS 
ROBBED ON HIGHWAY 



St. Louis, Oct. 6.. 

Roscoe Ates, film comedian, en 
route by automobile from Ft. Worth, 
Tex., to Dayton, O., reported to po- 
lice at Cape Girardeau, Mo., last 
week that he and two companions 
had been held up and robbed by two 
masked men on a highway near 
Forrest City, Ark. 

Ates asserted he was nicked for 
$180, while companions, Lora Lane 
and Janet Dickson, dancers, collec- 
tively lost $30 to the bandits. 



Wanger Nabs Logan 



Hollywood, Oct. 6. 

Joshua Logan, New York stage 
director, arrived here this week to 
join Walter Wanger's staff with a 
title" yet to be designated. 

Logan, organizer and first director 
of the University Players at Cape 
Cod, turned out Henry Fonda, Mar- 
garet Sullavan and James Stewart! 





HAS COAST DIZZY 



Talent's for Roosevelt, But 
Don't Tell Their Radio 
Sponsors — Used to - Be 

. Republican, But— - 



D. A.'S INTEREST SOME 



Hollywood, Oct. 6. 
Hollywood, normally about as in- 
terested in politics outside the gates 
of its ' own . several studios, . which 
most of them consider a full-time 
job, as in the foreign grosses these 
days from Spain, is getting all 
hepped up over the November 
count. 

Industry being directed in the 
main by. pragmatists, the studios 
used to give three rousing., cheers 
and a trailer for the Republicans 
and let it go at that. . 

In those days that was good 
politics locally and nationally. Cali- 
fornia was Republican 9 to 1 and so 
it didn't hurt Louis B. Mayer or Joe 
Schenck to take turns at paying the 
party's bills and getting a nice pat 
for the payoff. - 

But when four years ago the 
Democrats took the play away from 
the G. O. P. and the Warners and 
Winnie Sheehan were on the right 
side and Mayer and Schenck on the 
wrong, it looked as if Hollywood 
would continue a house divided 
against itself and still stand. 

Since then state politics and in- 
terior politics in certain studios have 
tied the boys up like' a Christmas 
package. From being a 9 to 1 Re- 
publican state, California is now 9 to 
7 Democratic. 

Warners can't cheer too loudly 
over this because they're tied in with 
Hearst, a life-long Democrat who has 
turned toward' Landon for his 1936 
answer. , 

This has left Winnie - Sheehan 
practically. alone, among big produc- 
ers still rooting as. hard for Roose- 
velt now as he and Warners were 
in 1932. Sheehan has put Gabe 
Yorke in charge of the motion pic- 
ture, faction which favors Roosevelt, 
Yorke working under Sauter who 
was sent out by Farley, and both of 
them taking orders from' National 
Headquarters. 

Aside frofh getting long- lists of 
signatures amorig- those in the in- 
dustry pledging themselves to vote 
for the Prez, they're not doing much. 
Most of^ the .names sign under 
promise not to be pushed out front 
or made to go through any gratuit- 
ous song and dance stuff as part of 
their signatures.. 

Stars who play both pix and radio 
are particularly touchy about being 
exploited at this time politically. 
Their sponsors in the east are pro- 
Landon almost to a man and they 
don't want any more headaches 
from above than come inevitably in 
their day's work. 

They promise to vote Democratic, 
however, and to win as many others 
to doing the same thing as they can 
by moulh-to-moiith methods. 

Locally, the office of district at- 
torney is about the only thing the 
industry is concerned with this 
year. Incumbent Buron Fitts, is- 
running against Harlan Palmer, pub- 
lisher of the Hollywood Citizen- 
News. Palmer made no campaign 
in the primaries, even turning down 
the support of his own paper, and 
ran up a big vote, big enough to 
prevent Fitts from riding in on the 
primaries anyway. 



Phfl Huston Has Pair 
Of B'way Stage Offers 



Hollywood, Oct. 6. 
- Philip Huston is mulling a pair 
of "Broadway stage . offers. One is 
'North Star,' new play by Austin 
Strong which John Golden will pro- 
duce. Other is a revival of 'Petri- 
fied Forest.' 

Meantime the actor; who will be 
seen in Radio's The Big Game,' is 
huddling with his studio regarding 
an' option lift. 



Extras Squawk at Santa Barbara 
Debs Usurping Their Ranks; Par 
Pics 




Kandels' If wood Chores 



Aben and Judith- Kandel - are en 
route to the Coast for writing as- 
signments at Columbia and War- 
ners, respectively, Mr. and Mrs. 
Kandel returned last week from 
England, where Kandel wrote the 
screen story for. 'Thunder , in the 
City,' starring Edward G. Robinson, 
for Atlantic Films. Mrs. Kandel was 
watching him work, 

At Columbia, Kandel starts imme- 
diately' on adaptation of his last sea- 
son novel, 'City of Conquest.' Mrs, 
Kandel,- at WB, has a similar assign- 
ment,, to adapt her own. last season 
play, 'Play,. Genius Play.' Piece was 
bankrolled by Meicvyn LeRoy . arid 
was short-lived, . with LeRoy now 
producing it as a film. 



U. S. MILITARY 
TABU FOR PIX 




Hollywood, Oct. 6. 
Strict clamp placed on use of army, 
navy and other military parapherna- 
lia by the U. S. • government has 
caused Metro to cupboard two stories, 
'Anchor Man,'- dealing with the 
Navy, arid Talk to the Marines.' For- 
mer was intended for Wallace" Beery. 
- Army also balked on J, Walter 1 
Ruben's plan to take long shots of 
massed planes at Mines Field' here 
for 'It 'Can't Happen Here.' 

During recent National Air races 
it was noted . that no military 
maneuvers or battle formations Were 
revealed by either branch of the 
Government's aviation .as had been 
done at past events of a similar 
nature. 



Communistic Pix Not 
Necessarily Immoral/ 
Mich. C't Reverses Ban 



Detroit, Oct. G. 
Detroit police film censorship pow- 
ers do not include right to bar Com- 
munistic picture on ground they are 
immoral or indecent, the Michigan 
Supreme Court ruled Monday (5), 
upholding right of Ida -W. Schuman, 
of the Detroit Cinema- Guild, to show 
Russian flicker, 'Maxim.' 

Miss Schuman got a permit a year 
ago, but it was revoked by Police 
Commissioner Heinrich A. Pickert 
through city ordinance on ground it 
was immoral, because it dealt with 
Communism and might excite class 
hatred. Pickert was upheld by Cir- 
cuit Judge Theo Richter last fall re- 
fusing writ of mandamus. 

Supreme Court decided Pickert 
exceeded his authority and ordered a 
writ issued, Supreme Court ruled 
'ordinary sense of immorality does 
not include interpretation that a pic- 
ture is immoral because it supports 
Communism.' 



. Hollywood, Oct. 6. • 
Class wars, labor troubles and. 
whatnot beset. Director Frank Tuttle 
when he took his Paramount troupe, 
to Santa Barbara for location shots - 
on 'College Holiday:' Studio biggies' 
thought it would be right nice to' 
get classy atmosphere by hiring a 
flock of society damsels to provide 
atmosphere in shots made at the 
swank Biltmore hotel. ' 

However; trouble, started as soon, 
as the .cameras, began grinding.' 
Three-, extra gals . imported front 
Hollywood walked up. to. Tuttle and. 
told him it was just, a shade from 
nasty to hire, the rich, gals when so. 
many extras' in Hollywood were 
worried .about meals: , . . 

'. ' Tuttle argued that he wanted the 
McCoy in. atmosphere .and that \he 
society ladies provided it. When he ! 
Indicated he would continue with', 
his plan, the three extra girls told 
him they would, wall? out. and what's' 
more, they'd take the stars with- 
them. A hasty check of Jack Benny, ' 
Mary Boland, George Burns and 
Grade Allen determined that the- 
extras were telling the truth, so the - 
society -legion, was given the air. 

Tuttle explained that he had left 
the extra casting up to an assistant.- 
He also said that he was- riot in fa- 
vor of letting people ?play at the 
picture business'- and that he thought, 
the society people had been hired.- 
•just to. 'fill in' because the scenes 
heeded a few more than had been 
brought .from Hollywood; 
; The society girls were no end up- 
set about being crowded out of the 
picture and claimed they were en- 
titled to .continue because they were 
donating their salaries to charity,. 

1 * - ■ 

BOLES AT $7,500 

John Boles Is due for another per- 
sonal for Paranibtfht, going into, the" 
■Minnesota, Minneapolis, ""Friday 0?>.'' 

Salary is. $7,500, with : the. William 
Morris office •setting the deal. 




, Levene Back to WB 

Sam Levene, formerly in Three 
Men on a Horse,' Playhouse, N. Y., 
returned to Hollywood last week un- 
der contract to Metro. His first 
studio assignment was In the film 
version of 'Horse' for Warners. 
While waiting for the new contract 
he virtually sat on his. trunk. 

While east he lost 10 pounds wor- 
rying whether 'Horse/ as a picture, 
would click, friends say. 



Trade Slhrk fleelafered 
FOUNUI3D BY- 31 MB SIl.VEnMAN 
ruLtllHlifd Weekly by VAHIKTV, Inc. 

;."" SI<1 Silverman. PreiilOenr 
164 West.4(Uh Street, New Tork City 



'8UBSCRll?TlON . 


Annual.., . . . .ft;' 








Vol.124 <t^ 


No. 4 



INDEX 

Advance Production Chart 17 

Bills 52 

Chatter 60 

Concert 59 

Exploitation .„. .;. ' 19 

15 and 50 Years Ago. 52. 

Film Reviews 15 

House Reviews : .50-51 

Inside — Pictures ......... 27 

Inside — Radio ; . 41 

International Film News. . 12-13 

Legitimate 53-57 . 

Literati 58 

Music , . ... .41-45 

New Acts , 51 

News from the Dailies. ... 01 

Nite Clubs.... 40 

Obituary C2 

Outdoors , 63 

Pictures 2-32 

Radio 33-43 

Radio— Reports '.. 3ft 

Radio— New Business..... 42 

Radio — Showmanship 42 

Shorts : 15 

Sports ......... 01 

Times Square..!., 61 

Units M 

Vaudeville 40-49 



IT r. 



VARIETY 



PICTURES 



Wednesday, October 7, 1936 



FILMS' $1,500,000 CENSORSHIP BILL 




Hollywood Optimistic Anent Its Self-Regulation, But 
the Eastern Execs See the Political Angle to Per- 
petuating the Censor Bodies as Long as Possible 



Hollywood, Oct 6. 

Hollywood believes it has paved 
the way for kayoing the bluenoses in 
nine eastern and southern states. 
Consequently, it feels confident that 
next winter, when the legislatures 
meet, it offers the best opportunity 
in years to sound the- death knell for 
■censorship boards in state and city 
baliwicks. . 

The industry, is ..vitally interested 
because of the cost of state and city 
' censorship. For 1936, it-is- estimated* 
censorship costs will approach' $1,- 
500,000 for -the picture" . business, with 
more than. $1,20^000 going to state 
boards of censure;" The. unestimated 
•cost entailed when' positive prints are 
ordered: altered td meet deletions 
further tilts -fhe' takfe. - ' ■' " " * '• 
N. Y.'sVfMOiOQOTop ' 

A fee is charged for censoring in 
• New York, Qhio,''Pennsylvania, Kan- 
sas, Virginia arid ; Mslryland; no fee 
is assessed in Massachusetts and 
' Florida, Figures indicate that cen- 
sorship, in New "Ydrfc alone" will ex- 
ceed $270,000 this year;- OftluVtotaL 
approximately ^00)000 ' will be net 
profit to the state since' expenses: arid 
salaries are hot expected to top 

$70,000. :■ : ' ■■: X". "" 

.The fee schedule was jacked up 
not long -ago ih Ohio so that the cen- 
sorship bill in that state mayhap* 
proach the N. Y. level. Amount pf 
money' collected ;ii^enri^Ivanla afeo 
is in' the top brackets^ because' Iwo 
large exchange, centers , are located 
in:.th^/sfate;. and ) .thp ^umber of ex- 
hibitors', is Jiflusuall^ large, 7 '-'■ 
- The' amount of money collected in 
New York is big because the rules 
call for a fee on,eaph print'-of a fea 
.t«re prd<Jtictiorit With'thVee big dis- 
tributihg pbfcfs''fr&e'~s<aHfe'and the 
vast number of prints necessary, the 
bill naturally tops the nation. 
Censor boards also hold sway in 
. about~20D cities, but , only. Chicago, 
'. Detroit and Boston really go in for 
, irigid trimming In £' big way. ta the 
}■''•. (Continued on page 29) 



BRADY, W1NN1NGER SET 
AS NEW U COMEDY TEAM 



Hollywood, Oct 6. 
Alice Brady and Charles Win- 
ninger will be teamed at Universal. 
Actress who recently .completed 
chores in *My Man •' Godfrey' and 
Three Smart Girls* "was given a 
term contract last week. Studio is 
searching for a suitable -yarn for the 
comedy team. ' ' 

In the meantime, Miss Brady goes 
to. EmanueL Cohen to . add a stint in 
i'Mihd. Your , Own Business,' opposite 
Charles Ruggtes. U ..ticket begins 
after Cohen stretch. . 

First picture for Brady-Wjnninger 
team^will .be , "Delay in.the ; Sun,'- by 
Anthony, Thome. . Studio plans to 
incorporate action shots of the cur- 
rent Spanish revolution* story being 
located in' Spain, . ■'. * " . 

Robertvpresnell. has been 'assigned 
to do, the screen play. Wendy. Bar' 
rie, Cesar Romero, and Louis Hay- 
ward set as support. Production 
skedded. for Nov. 1 start 



20th Pnmes Writers 

Hollywood, Oct 6. 
Three writers were "dropped from 
•the -20th-Fox; roster, last, week, leav- 
ing 51 scriveners •working. ' . ' 

Gladys Lehman, Charles Renyon 
and Mark Kelly left the lot, when 
their options were not lifted. 

Kelley is ■ free lancing .. and cur- 
rently working on a book, 'Only 
Suckers Work,' said to be based on 
the Wilson Mizner philosophy. 

Kelly,, former sports editor of the 
L. A. Examiner, who turned-scenar- 
ist for Darryl F. Zanuck at 20th- 
Fox, ankled from the lot Oct 1. 
Reported he refused to continue on 
present salary scale when an .option 
called for uppage. • ^ 

He collabed with Leonard Pras- 
kmson 'One in a Million,' first. Sonja 
Henife picture, now in production. 



BALABAN'S PERIODIC 
HUDDLES IN NEW YORK 



John Balaban,, in. aotive charge of 
Balaban & Kate in Chicago-^with 
Barney Balaban in New-: York per- 
manently as president of Paramount 
i— will come east, e'yery four or five 
weeks to confer with his brother .and 
to contact distributors on product 
B. & K. is forced, 'to buy much more 
product: now as a, result of going 
double features. . 

.,' Barney Balaban, retains the presi- 
dency' :of B&K 4 Brother .John is in 
New York at present' . 



Howard's Wanger Chore 



Hollywood, Oct. C. 

William K. Howard will direct 
'Summer Lightning' ...for Walter 
Wanger, production to start in mid- 
November. 

Director, has been in Europe sev- 
eral months -working for Alexander 
Korda. ' 



S-I Testing for Mark 
Twain Kids in St. Loo 



^ St; Louis, Oct. 6.. 
Several "hundred Missouri boys, 9 
to 14, were interviewed here Satur 
day, Monday' and today \ (Tuesday) 
by three, representatives of Seknick- 
Internatiohal . Pictures in quest -of 
boys to portray Mark Twain charac 
ters, Tom Sawyer: and Hdekleberry 
Finn. Scrutinizing film hopefuls are 
William Hi- Wright, personal .repre 
sentative of David O. Selznick, Mar 
shall Neilan, director, and Harry 
Maynard, talent scout 

/Youngsters of every possible 
description thronged assembly hall 
in Municipal Auditorium for inter 
views. Searchers said they woulc 
remain here Until 'territory is ex- 
hausted or object achieved. Those 
chosen will be given screen teste 
City nicked- Selznick. Pix ?105 for 
use of hall. • s 



PAR'S 'SALEM' STALIED 
BY COLBERT'S MISHAP 



Hollywood, Oct 6. 
Paramount's 'Maid of Salem' is 
marking: time while medicos deter- 
mine the extent of Claudette Col- 
bert's injury sustained in a traffic 
crash. Players have been given the 
required notice in the event produc- 
tion is suspended. 

At first believed actress suffered a 
basal skull fracture, later diagnosis 
is that it's a concussion. Picture 
has two weeks to go. 



Ratoff Goes to 'Town' 

*» 

.- Hollywood, Oct '6. 

Lou Brock has spotted Gregory 
Ratoff in' one ! of the top comedy 
spots in T6p o' the'-TOwn' at Uni- 
versal. Walter Lang -will direct with 
picture set to start .this week. 

Other castings' are .Ze'ni' VatOrl, 
Michael Fitzmau'rice and Robert 
Dalton. . 



BUTTON'S 'TARDY' NAG 

Hollywood, Oct. 6, 
. Claude Binyon, who sold his rac- 
ing string after losing the family 
press clips last year, is staging, a 
comeback. Has bought a nag and 
named him/Tardy,' which up to now 
was the exclusive billing of his six- 
year-old son. J 

Raced the kid against the horse 
and kid won, so he figured the kid 
should give up - the billing to the 
horse. Work of haridicappers, he 
further figures, should be a pushover 
from now on. ... . 



RUNYON-PAR STYMIE? 



Due to WB-Hearst Hookup— Gil 
Gabriel Gets Under the Wire 



Damon Runyon's writing deal with 
Paramount was all set but bumped 
against trouble because of the Hearst 
(King Features) contract, which has 
several years to run. According to 
that paper Jbe can't go to work for 
anybody in any other line of en- 
deavor , without first getting a no 
from Hearst or allied Hearst in- 
terests. In the matter of film writ- 
ing, "this means Warner Bros, and, 
when Warners, heard about Runyon 
going to Par it' (WB) .decided it 
could use. the .scripter itself.- .Now 
the whole thing's more or less in 
the air, 

Almost the same situation came 
up with Gilbert W. Gabriel, drama 
critic for the N. Y. American. Par 
wanted Gabriel to do a screen play 
on the. life of Victor Herbert. It 
was arranged that he was to do: the 
writing in New York at his home 
and stick tp his job reviewing stage 
plays at the same time. Before sig- 
nature, however, Gabriel phoned 
Jake Wilk of Warners and told him 
about it. Wilk- wired the Coast and 
the Coast answered that it wanted 
Gabriel, there, but not in New York. 
That made it okay for the Par deal. 



Frank Wallace Persists 
He's Mister Mae West 

. Frank Wallace, vaude actor, in- 
sists . Mae West is his wife, despite 
the fact that the case was' once 
tossed out of court, ,and On Thurs- 
day. (1) .Wallace's attorney filed affi- 
davits in'N, Y. supreme court stating 
that Miss West was personally 
served in Los Angeles jon Sept 14 
by ft deputy sheriff in a new. action 
which Wallace ' has .commenced to 
compel. her to admit she is his lawful 
spouse. 

. Wallace claims .that he was wed 
to Hiss West in Milwaukee in 1911 
while both were members of a vaude 
troupe.' She has persistently denied 
his claim, although he has produced 
what purports to be documentary 
proof, . Last June Justice Cotillo 
dismissed the action on the ground 
that service bad been,, improperly 
served on 'the .actifess/ ' Wallace at 
the . time was permitted to reopen 
the action. 



World Series May Be 
Just a Coincidence (Oh 
Yeah!) for H'wooStes 

A lot of picture people :drifted 
into New York during the past .week 
to contact home offices, check up on 
business matters, vacation around 
and look, in on the World's Series'. * 

So many' came on from the Par- 
amount studio that the home office 
.grouped them -all together and tossed. 
! a mass cocktail party at the Waldorf; 
discharging a favorite custom for 
visiting celebs with one stroke. The 
Par bunch includes William LeBaron, 
Ernst Lubitsch, Wesley ' Buggies, 
King Vidor, George Raft William 
Frawley, Travis Banton, Gary 
Cooper, Randolph Scott Leopold 
Stokowski, Benny. Goodman and, for. 
good, measure* a few Coast girls, 
Irene Dunne, Elizabeth Patterson 
and Margaret Perry, . 

A representative' . United Artists 
.crowd is also. here or coming. Dr. 
;A. H. Gianinni and. Walter Huston 
got in over .'the weekend, joining 
Nino Martini, who came on in ad-, 
vance. . Others tied tip with UA who 
like -New York at this time of the 
yeaj whether* ori not they like base- 
ball, include' Rouben • Mamoulian, 
Fredric March- and Mary Pickford, 
also Mrs. March' (Florence Eldridge). 

Wheeler 'and . t^oolsiey came on 
during the past week from the RKO 
plant 'to catch, the series but Robert 
Woolsey didn't stay for -all the 
games. RKO had reports Fred 
Astaire, Charlie Butterworth and 
George O'Brien W e Je flying in for 
a game or two but no confirmation 
could be obtained. 

John Boles and Gregory Ratoff, 
U cohtractees, are also in New YOrk, 
Boles admittedly to see the Yanks 
and Giants battle it out. Ratoff isn't 
talking. Robert Montgomery, Eddie 
Buzzell and Freddie- Kohlmar are 
also in town. 

Harry Cohn,- president of Colum- 
bia, decided to come on to lend big 
producer representation among the 
visitors, as did Winnie Sheehan. The. 
Queen Mary Monday (5) brought in 
others, including the Jack Warners, 
the Carl Laemmles, Noel Coward and 
John C. Wilson. Tay Garnett also 
arrived on this boat The town gets 
added star strength through the ar- 
rival yesterday (Tues.), of> Dick 
Powell and Joan Blondell, who are 
honeymooning. Warners gave them 
a big reception and are planning a 
party for the newly weds Friday 
afternoon (9). 

Anita Louise is sche duled to arrive 
frofn the Coast WB studios today 
(Wed.). RKO has two featured 
players ill in hospitals, Anne Shir- 
ley and Gertrude Michael, so they're 
missing the ball games, if that's their 
dish. 



UA'Sl RENTAL 





. . ^Angeles;' Oct 6. 
Indie suburban ' and riabe ex- 
hibitors are up in , arms against the 
stiff percentage ,a^ rental schedule 
sejt up fdl? its ngjS jppoduct by United 
Artists and are threatening a boy- 
cott. Indies muffed their chance to 
buy the product before the Fox- 
West Coast -deal- waff-closed. ; A 

Exhibs are Exchanging informa- 
tion on prices" quoted _by salesmen 
and are using- these figures in a con- 
certed move to- drive down the 
prices. Howevejr,,!^ sales heads are 
standing pat ,of^ .the original quota- 
tions. ' : 



SELLS 'CUB%; C0EN GETS 
'JURY' TRIAL AT RADIO 



Hollywood, Oct. 6. 

Franklin Caen, who recently sold 
his original, 'Convention in Cuba,' to 
Radio, has been sighed by S. J. Bris- 
Irin to screenplay 'We, the Jury,' 
which Joseph Henry Steele will pro- . 
duce. Gertrude . PurcelL ■ will., script 
'Cuba,' which will star Joe Penner 
and Parkyakarkas, which Edward 
SmaU 'pfodvces.''.^>'< ' 

Dorothy Yost also has been set .to 
do the screen .play . on 'Satisfaction 
Guaranteed,' a William Sistrom pro- 
duction. Owen' ''TJ&ii, Jr., in ah im- 
portant role in this picture. 



Miriam Hof^ins Sails 
From tittg. ioT GoMwyn 



Hollywood, Oct 6. 
Miriam Hopkins has informed 
Samuel Goldwyn that she's sailing 
from London Oct. . 14. 
• Actress will go into starring role 
of 'The Woman's Touch' when she 
returns to the Coast Sam and Bella 
Spewack wrote' the. original.. 



Loews Into the Roxy Operating 
Picture Again in Pool with 20th-Fox 



McCAKTHY'S SHIFT TO REP. 

Kansas. City, Oct. 6. 

Leo McCarthy of local 20th-Fpx 
office has resigned his position to go 
to the Coast, as a producer with Re- 
public. McCarthy has been in KC 
for some time as film buyer and as- 
sistant to Elmer Rhoden of. the 
Skouras office. Coast duty starts 
Oct. 15. . . 

McCarthy will be assistant to Nat 
Levine. . . 



Loew's operation of the Roxy the- 
atre, N. Y.,'came up again this week 
via a three-way pact involving 20th. 
Century-Fox, Metro and Loew. 
Warner Bros, ahd 20th-Fox previ- 
ously have been reported mulling 
such a proposition. 

While details have not been per- 
fected, the Astor and Capitol would 
figure in the three-way agreement 
if the Roxy operation is taken over 
by Loew's. Likelihood of the Astor 
remaining ih the set-up would de- 
pend on whether Metro and 20th- 
Fox are able to furnish enough r*oad 
show pictures for this house. Metro 
holds ' only a temporary lease but 
probably would keep it providing 
the caliber of -films held up to pres- 
ent .standard.' 

With the Astor remaining in the 
picture, the, pick of ace product of 
Metro and 20th-Fox would be. avail- 
able for roadsh'owing in this theater. 
Would take six or seven biggest fea- 
tures of year. Then all remaining 
A- product from the two companies 
would go into the Capitol, with the 
B features available from the two 
producers for the Roxy. 
1 With 20thrFox supplying 60. fea- 
tures arid Metro 50, the three houses 
would have about 110 pictures to 
select from each year,. Discounting 
the Astor roadshowers, with a max- 
imum of 40 allotted to the Capitol, 
this would leave about 65 available 
for the Roxy, with ih.2 pooled op- 
erating interests able , to reject- 20 



of these and still have plenty, of 
strong product in the remaining 40- 
44 subjects. It's likely, too, that 
some .English-made features could 
be fitted in where caliber was strong 
enough to fill the spots. • Capitol 
would take first runs of Astor road- 
show pictures per usual. 



Sheehan Settles $105,304 
Harriman Bank Note 

A promissory note for $105,304 
which Winfield R. Sheehan had with 
the defunct Harriman National Bank, 
N.. Y., whose head went to jail on 
conviction of embezzlement, has been 
settled with Frederick Z. Goess, re- 
ceiver of .the bank. Amount of the 
settlement not known. 
. Goess signed a stipulation, in the 
U. S. District Court Friday (2) dis 
continuing the action he had brought 
for collection of the note from Shee 
han. Note, apparently taken from 
Sheehan on a personal loan, was 
made June 22, 1932. 



Mpljison Quits Coast 

Hollywood, Oct. 6. 

Henry Mollison, having finished 
his .Columbia contract, has gone to 
New York whence he'll sail for Lon 
don. He came here two years ago 
for Universal. 

His latest English portrayal wag in 
the title spot, in 'Lord Nelson.' 



Tay Garuett Back in U.S. 



After a round-the-world cruise on 
his yacht Tay Garnett, his wife, and 
Paul Schwegler, his aide, are back 
in N. Y., but this time via trans- 
atlantic liner, on a call from 20th- 
Fox to start on 'The Last Slaver,' 
which Garnett Will direct for Darryl 
Zanuck. It's to be one of the latter's 
personal productions for 20th. 

The - Garnetts and Schwegler are 
seeing the new shows until Friday, 
when they entrain- west. 

Meantime Thorton Delehanty, ex- 
N. Y. Post film critic, has-been ; work- 
ing on scripting, ahd! editing of < con- 
siderable travelog. \ footage ..which 
Garnett . shot ori'his ; world j aunt 



Jane and Shirley Set 

Hollywood, Oct 6. 

The. Holy , ^CTrpr,! yarn with a 
naval base ba'ck^ound by L<jU Bres- 
low and John '.Patrick,' will be',, the 
next picture for jSape 1 Withers at 
20th-Fox. , James Tinting will direct, • 
with John Stone.. associate, producer. 

El Brendel, Joe Lewis, Anthony 
Martin, Leah Ray and Joan Derriel 
will support. Harry Akst and Sid- 
ney Clare are doing tunes. 

U Recalls Eilers 

. Hollywood, Oct. 6. 
. Universal has : .called Sally Eilers 
back from England to play opposite 
James Dunn in an untitled picture. 

Dunn is working in 'Murder on 
the Mississippi' and • has one more 
film to do for studio under his pres- 
ent pact ' 



Wiles Directs 'Women' 

Hollywood, Oct. 6.. 

Columbia has set Gordon Wiles to 
direct 'Women of Glamour,' which 
Everett Riskin will produce. 

Picture is slated to get away Oct. 
10. Cast includes Melvyn Douglas, 
Virginia Bruce and Reginald Denny. 

Flora Snyder's Accident 

Hollywood, Oct. 6. 
While on a location trip for Re- 
public's 'The Big Show,' Flora Sny- 
der fell and sustained a broken hip. 
. She was taken to the Cedars of 
Lebanon hospital for treatment 



Wednesda y, October 7, 1936 



PICTURES 



VARIETY 






Winnie Sheehan's Own Unit for UA 
Distribution; Laemmle, Jr., Deal On 



., % WJnfleld R. Sheehan will return to 
I/. active picture making at the head of 
his own unit, , releasing through 
United Artists. DeaVis being closed 
in N. Y. by Shfeehan and Dr. A. H. 
Giannini, prexy of UA. 

Addition of a group of Alms to 
' be made by Sheehan is in line with 
the policy announced by Dr. Gian- 
. nini, who ; said the company, from, 
time' to time would augment its pro- 
ducers and. increase the number of 
> >•' yearly releases. 

Current program includes 30 pic- 
tuxes, seven each to be made by 
Samuel Goldwyn and Walter Wan- 
, ger; .five-' by Selznick-International, 
olie each by Reliance and Pickford- 
. Lasky and nine British-made, of 
which six will come from Alexander 
Korda. . . . 

Goldwyn and Korda, as part-own- 
ers of UA, are- releasing under long- 
term • contracts, but Selznick and 
Wanger are reported to have con- 
tracts for two years each, with cer- 
tain continuing options. Selznick 
organized his own company about a 
year ago./ He ;has released only orie 
picture, 'Little •" Lord Fauritleroy,' 
wi,th Garden of Allah,' starring Mar- 
lene Dietrich and Charles Boyer, re- 
cently completed. Announced for 
early production are 'Tom Sawyer,' 
'History Is Made' at Night' and 'It 
Happened in Hollywood.' • 
' Inclusion of Sheehan in UA pro- 
duction ranks is regarded as a move 
to insure a steady flow of product 
through the . releasing company, 
which! in .a period of six months 
prior, to the release of 'Dodswqrth,' 
had only Hhree American-made pic- 
tures for its exchanges. • 

Sheehan probably will make one 
picture for this season and at least 
five for next year's selling period. 

Another , distribution deal with 
Carl Laemmle, Jr., is under UA con- 
sideration. 

Thomas Mann, Nobel prize win- 
ner in 1935, will write an original 
for the screen to be produced by 
Carl Laemmle, Jr. He and Laemmle, 
Sf. are now in New, York, after an 
extended European vacash, consid- 
ering >a couple of distribution deals 
for his pictures. Junior Laemmle 
will produce.- independently. United 
will- produce -independently. 

Carl Laemmle, .Sr. will return to 
the. Coast in about a week but Jr. 
is. expected to stay on in the east 
• for five or six weeks. 

For his film productions, James 
Whale will be director. Laemmle, 
Jr.. purohased several other story 
properties abroad,, including among 
these is a new novel by Alfred 
Neumari, author of 'The Patriot.' 

Others are 'Nine Officers,' a story 
of the Boxer rebellion by George 
Frasier, and 'Soul with a Thousand 
Faces,' an anti-war story, by Friges 
Karinthy. , 



Selznick's Rest? 



Hollywood, Oct. 6. 

David O. Selznick spent 36 
hours in the Cedars of Lebanon 
hosp last week resting. 

To provide relaxation, the 
producer took along 36 scripts. 




52 PICTURES ON 
NEXT YEAR'S 




SCHINE THEATRE EXEC 
FOR N. Y. COMPTROLLER 



_ ' Albany, Oct. 6. 

" J°nn A.. May, comptroller of the 
Schine Theatre Corp., Gloversville, is 
the Republican nominee .for state 
comptroller. He is 50, a native of 
Watertown, N. Y.. married and has 
wo daughters. He is a former mem- 
ber of the Federal Reserve Bank, rf 
New York City. He was executive 
v. p. of the Fulton National Bank & 
Trust Co. of Gloversville, leaving 
*ne Reserve" bank to become comp- 

u7 er of tne Scnin e corporation, 
which ' controls * some 100 picture 
theatres in -New York and nearby 
states. 

Tne nomination was a surprise to 
Political observers here. May was 
not present with other candidates to 
receive official notice of his sclec- 
uon. His opponent at the November 
section is the present comptroller, 
•Morris S. Tremaine, of Buffalo. 



Hollywood, Oct. 6. 
Prior to his departure for New 
York, R. H. Cochrane, president of 
Universal, announced plans to make 
52 pictures on the 1637-38 program. 
This ups current season's sked by 10. 

Cochrane had been here for sev- 
eral days huddling with' J. R. 
Grainger, Charles R. Rogers and 
William Koenig. . J. Cheever Cowdin 
also was here, but returned east last 
week. 

Studio already has completed 24 
pix on this season's sked in the first 

six months of the new outfit's 
existence. 

U, with 72 players, on its list, will 
start immediately to build larger 
writer and director rosters. 



LONGER ON PIX 



Both Chicago and North- 
west Exhibs in Strong 
Film Buying Sprees — 
Especially in Chi — Boy- 
cott Idea Broken 



PRODUCT SCRAMBLE 



DOC GIANNINI HEADS 
UA EXEC INFLUX TO N.Y. 



A. H. Giannini, president of United 
Artists, arrived in New York Satur- 
day (3), after a stopover in Chicago, 
leading a vanguard of UA people 
who are due in New York. .Among 
these is Walter Huston, who also ar- 
rived from' the Coast Saturday (3). 
Mary Pickford is expected within a 
week, with Giannini probably still in 
New York on her arrival. 

. Rouben Mamoulian got in Sunday 

(4) from the Coast, while Tay Gar- 
nett returned from Europe Monday 

(5) and Fredric March got in 
yesterday (Tues.). March has just 
been signed by Selznick Interna- 
tional. William K. Howard, who. has 
been set to direct for Walter Wan- 
ger, is expected back from England 
in a month. 

Dr. Giannini is accompanied east 
by Mrs. Giannini, his son, Bernard, 
and his assistant, Thomas Walker. . 
: Giannini at a press conference 
yesterday commented upon the great 
nationalistic spirit the industry has 
developed 'in the leading nations 
throughout the world in recent 
years. 

Anent David O. Selznick returning 
to Metro, the Doc said the Selznick 
has five pictures yet to make for 
UA. 



Hollywood, Oct. 6. 

Fredric March has been signed to 
play the lead in- 'A Star Is Born,' 
nee 'It Happened in Hollywood,' for 
Selznick-International. William A. 
Wellman and Robert Carson devel- 
oped the story from ah outline by 
David O. Selznick. 

Wellman will direct the production, 
which starts as soon as Alan Camp- 
bell and Dorothy Parker polish up 
the script. 



Chicago, Oct. 6. 

Buying splurge is taking place in 
Chicago at present as the nabe in- 
dependent exhibitors have reached 
their breaking point in their general 
boycott against all distributors. All 
of a sudden they have quit their 
plan to refuse to buy new product 
as a .silent protest against double 
features and the additional clearance 
against 25c houses which goes in 
with the new contracts. 

New release charts for. November 
pictures reveal that the third week 
of that month will have only one 
picture on.' the - 1935-1936 contract 
and the last week of the month will 
not have a single old contract pic- 
ture on the list. With the result that 
the exhibs are" now s.o.s.ing the ex- 
changes to send down their salesmen 
in a hurry. 

Distribs, sitting around on their 
hands for the past two months as 
far as local buys are concerned, are 
signaturing deals. Exhibs figure that 
they need the new product to keep 
their houses open and/ their screens 
alive after Nov. 15 when the last of 
the old season's product is ex- 
hausted. . Some of them have . been 
figuring on utilizing some indie and 
states-right pictures for a couple of 
weeks to fill in any possible gap be- 
tween the old major product and 
the" new stuff. But the bulk of the 
exhibs can't sit back and watch com- 
peting houses gobble up the cream 
of the contracts. 

(Continued on page 29) 



Cohn, Buzzell Back 

Harry Cohn and Eddie Buzzell 
are planing back in their private 
air chariot today (Wednesday). 
Chartered an airship for their ad- 
vent east, via Dallas stop-off, last 
week, in time to see the world 
series. 

Buzzell is slated to direct a pic- 
ture for Cohn at Columbia. 



Schenck, on Coast, Declares He's 
Ready to Fulfill the C-B Terms 



Kent's London Huddles 



London, Oct. 6. 
■ Sid Kent, 20th Century-Fox 
prez, has arrived here from 
New York, admittedly, on the 
Gaumont-British deal which has 
been stymied. 

Went into immediate execu- 
tive huddles with the local 20th, 
G-B and Metro principals. 



SPITZ DEFERS 
COAST TRIP; 
RKOREORG 



Al Le win Signs 

With Par; Dave 
Lewis Stays MG 



Hollywood, Oct. 6. 

Albert Lewin, production associate 
of Irving Thalberg. at Metro-for the 
past six years, has signed with Para- 
mount as a producer of important 
pictures, Adolph Zukor announced 
today. It winds up a 12-year stay at 
Metro for Lewin, after editing 'Good 
Earth.' He's slated to go abroad for 
four months before taking up his 
duties at Paramount, March 1. 

Zukor stated Lewin also will serve 
in a general executive advisory 
capacity. 

While in Europe, Lewin will line 
up story material for his Paramount 
productions. Before aligning With 
Thalberg, Lewin was Metro story 
editor and also on the writing staff. 

Lewin had been huddling with 
Sam Goldwyn for a production 
berth before making the Par deal. 

David Lewis will remain at Metro 
as an associate producer, working 
with Louis B. Mayer. Lewis handled 
Irving Thalberg's production of *Ca- 
mille,' now being completed. 

'Pride and Prejudice,' set to star 
Norma Shearer and Charles Laugh- 
ton, will remain on the M-G sched- 
ule and probably will be handled by 
Lewis under Mayer's generalship. 

McGuinness a Metro A, P. 



Indications are that Leo Spitz, 
president of RKO, may not entrain 
for the Coast until- RKO's prospects 
for early reorganization are set defi- 
nitely. • ■''■:>: 

Expectations .are in order under 
these circumstances that a compre- 
hensive plan for submission to se- 
curity holders, creditors and the 
court, under 77b,' may be' soon final- 
ized. 

William V. Hodges, of Denver, and 
John R. Moroney, attorney- for the 
Karl Hoblitzelle interests, of Texas, 
have constituted themselves a com- 
mittee to act for unsecured creditors 
in the RKO reorganization proceed- 
ings. White & Case, N. Y. law firm, 
is counsel for the group. Both 
Hodges and Moroney represent sub- 
stantial ' unsecured, claims against 
RKO. 

Hodges is of the firm of Hodges, 
Wilson & Vidal, Denver. • He is also 
a director of the U. S. National 
Bank, of Denver, .which holds a 
claim of $81,271.95 against RKO.' 
This is one of the claims which have 
been allowed by Federal Judge 
Bondy. 

Moroney represents the Majestic 
Theatre Building, Dallas; and he also 
is secretary of the Hoblitzelle Corp., 
the Hoblitzelle Investment Co. and 
the Hoblitzelle Realty Co. - 

Special Master Thomas D. Thacher 
has allowed the Hoblitzelle interests 
$624,502.67 on three claims. 



Hollywood, Oct. C. 

Metro has upped James K. Mc- 
Guinness to an associate producer- 
ship. Writer moves into his new 
spot without an assignment. - 

Metro's current production sched- 
ule is very heavy. 



G-B SETS IMPORTANT 
DEAL WITH RKO IN N.Y. 



•Hollywood, Oct. 6. 
• Following his arrival from New 
York to stay on the Coast until 
March, Joseph M. Schenck asserted 
that 'as far as we are concerned the 
Gaumont-British, Metro and 20th 

Century-Fox deal will be completed. 

'We have initialed the final papers 
and are ready to carry out the terms 
of the agreement,' Schenck said. : 

-The opposition has come from an- 
other competitive concern in Eng- 
land which made a higher bid to 
the Ostrer brothers with whom we 
are negotiating. Isidore Ostrer said 
that his brother, Mark, felt they 
should consider this offer. However, 
this competitor offered us $8,500,000 
for: our interest in Gaumont-British, 
but we refused, feeling that we had 
committed ourselves to the. deal.' 
. Schenck, who Was met by Darryl 
F. Zanuck, William Goetz, . Lou 
Anger and other 20th-Fox execs, as- 
serted he will remain here to 
further the $4,000,000 expansion pro- 
gram at the studio; 



Greenfield Says 





tinent Co. 



Gaumont-British and RKO thea- 
tres have reached an accord on G-B 
product, for RKO's metropolitan 
New York area. With the consent 
of Skouras, the understanding seems 
to be that Gaumont will withdraw 
its projected deal to feed product to 
the Skouras-Riverside, upper Broad- 
way house, in order to pave the way 
for a circuit deal with RKO. This 
extricates Gaumont from a knotty 
jam which might have sewed up its 
N. Y. marketing possibilities and 
kept G-B from the first-run situa- 
tion, here, altogether. 

Gaumont was in a predicament as 
the Riverside is in competition to the 
RKO 81st St. RKO would not con- 
sider purchasing G-B product for its 
circuit while that upper Broadway 
situation was locked out. 

The deal, on the tapis, with RKO 
theatres is a selectivity deal on G-B's 
program of 24. 

Jeff Bernard's Off Y On 

London, Sept. 29. 
Stockholders of General Theatres 
Corp., theatre affiliate of Gaumont- 
British, objected to reelection of Jef- 
frey Bernerd to the board at their 
annual meeting yesterday. Grounds 
were that, due to his long absence in 
the United States, he had been un- 
able , to carry out his duties as a 
director. 

On a vote, Bernerd was not 
elected, but when chairman Mark 
Ostrer called a poll the decision was 
reversed by a heavy majority. 



Atlantic City, Oct. 6, 
Albert M. Greenfield; Philadelphia 
broker, testified today ' (Tuesday) 
that his brokerage firm collected 
$500,000 commission when William 
Fox sold out bis theatre and studio . 
interest in 1930. He said that he and 
,Fox bought $1,500,000 of stock; ih 
Bankers Securities, ' Inc., shortly ' 
after the sell-out and that the two 
acted as a syndicate to sell the stock 
to the public. The shares, Greenfield 
added, were also bought through 
Albert M. Greenfield & Co., the 
brokerage firm. 

Greenfield said that many persons 
subscribed to the stock but failed 
to come through with money result- " 
ing in collapse of the plan, Green- 
field also revealed that the All-Con* 
tinent Corp., a $7,000,000 concern 
Fox claims he turned over to his 
wife, still owned most of the shares 
in Bankers Securities, and that Fox 
was still a member of the tatter's 
board' of directors, 

'Even now/ said Greenfield, 'when 
Bankers Securities has any dealings 
with All-Continent, we always se- 
cure Mr. Fox's signature on the 
notes.' 

It is doubtful whether Fox will be 
called to the stand again this week, 

Last week Fox testified that he 
was 'under the Impression' at the 
beginning of 1930 that" he was 
'worth about $100,000,000,' but 
learned later that he could sell, out 
for only $21,000,000, . 

Late in 1930 Fox created the 
$7,000,000 All-Continent Corp, and 
turned it over to his wife. Counsel, 
for creditors have openly tried to 
prove the concern is really owned 
and operated by Fox.. His wife, Eva, 
testified recently she knew little 
about the concern's affairs. 

No Statement Since '20 

Fox said he never had a complete 
list of his assets compiled and 
hadn't had a financial statement 
Hince 1920; 

"I never looked at my books,'' he . 
said, "I had ' perfect confidence in 
my bookkeeper, Mr. Herbert Leit- 
steen." 

Fox testified that he gave his 
father $300,000 in cash a year before 
the latter died. . 

"Why isn't the transfer listed on 
the books?" asked Walter Hanstein, 
counsel for creditors, with claims of 
$9,500,000 against the former film 
tycoon. 

. "Father gave me the money to 
keep for him," replied Fox. "I made 
no entry on the books when he 
turned the money over to me, and 
(Continued^ on page 20) 



6 



VARIETY 



V'9 'Cif -li/it ; f' "S' * -v -, — ■ We^nes&y, October 7, 1936 



Amusement Group Averages 



(3d Quarter,. '36) 



—JULY-^r— AUGUST-^ r—*$fiPT.-- 



[ 




1 



1 1 1 1 1 




II 



WKKK1.V SALES IK 100.000m 




44 



4J 
42 



41 



Weekly '.high and low average of prices in repJCesehtative apiuseraent 
Stocks in Amusement Group, listed on the N. Y. Stock and Curb exchanges, 
is indicated by the vertical bars in the upper portion of the above chart. 

.Closing prices for the group each week are showh by means of short 

- crossrbar. Lower part .of chart .depicts trend in- volume each .week; 
•The highest point attained in this three-month' period and for the year. 

.was 47%, recorded in /the; week ending Sept 14. Low for this quarter 
was reached during week ending July 6 at slightiy above 42%. 'After the 
shake-out in this week, the Amusement Group rallied sharply the follow- 
ing vjeek with a high of 45% and never 'sagged b'eloW 44- during all siib- 
.sefluent weeks. In. week of July 20, the group made a. new high for the 
year and continued surging forward for the. remainder, of this quarter, 
upward moves being halted only- by technical reactions. 

Trend of the group showed the greatest .volume on the upside which 
was the tip-off that further advances might be expected. Unlike the 

■ movement in the preceding quarter (April, May and June),- the trend was 
definitely up throughout these three months. Activity of the group was 
greatest hi the. Sept. 14 week (high point in averages) when 385,100 shares 

. changed battds, Smallest trading volume icarne. -in-' the week ending July 6, 
which was the. period when Hie averages sagged to. their lowest" level dur- 
ing this quarter. 




As Market Advances on Wide Front 



By "MIKE WEAK - 
■ After drifting lower in early trad- 
ing, many stocks rallied "towards the 
. ito.se of yesterday's'' <Tues. ) stock 
nfarket as ^transactions, again ex- 
ceeded 2,000,000 shares. Most, amuse- 
ment issues only remained firm or 
edged , up fractionally. Exceptions to 
the minor gains were - Technicolor, 
which advanced to. .27%, a g'aih of 
mpre tbafti 1 pojmVEastmau Kodak, 
• lip 3%, at l77%; General Theatre, up 
TOc, at 26%, and Pathe, up the same 
figure, at 8%. 20th Century-Fox 
went to 31%, ..... . 

. Both Westinghouse stocks went to 
,. v. ' (Continued, on page 27) 



MaclEAN-CAGNEY HAVE 
3 YARNS TO PICK FROM 



II DUSTS *R0AD BACK' 



, . Hollywood, Oct 6. 

Taking , cognizance' -of : ,the * war 
strife in Porope, tlnlversal has 
dusted off 'The Road: Back,' .Eric 
Remarque's preachment against con- 
. milt,' to put it in early production; 
Novel has been on and . off sked 'for 
four years. 

Studio is angling to have B. C 
Sherriff, author of 'Journey's End,' to 
come . here to revise script. James 
^Whale,'. who directed 'End,' will meg 
Xhjs nicker.... Univejrsal also' is con 
tactihg Remarque to advise on pro 
duction in Hollywood. 



Rewland: fiods Par Deal 



. ■ < ■ Hollywood, Oct. 6. 
• His two-picture deal with Para- 
mount washed up, Richard A. Row- 
land pulls stakes ■ at his production 
quarters at Educational studios' to- 
day (Mon.), * 

Expects- to announce bis new 
setup in a few days. 



20th Options Yellen 

Hollywood, Oct. .6. 
Jack Yellen has been optioned for 
another stretch at 20th-Fo* as a 
writer. 

He is collabing with Harry Tugend 
on 'Wake Up and Live.' 



, ... Holly-wood, Oct. 6. 
<. Three stories are under considera- 
tion by. Douglas MacLean and James 
Cagney- for. the actor's Second pro- 
duction fpr - Grand National^ release. 
L-eqiiard Lee^s Sateyepost yarn, 'Mas- 
ter Mind'; an Orig by W. T. Ballard, 
'Fugitive for Justice,' and an .un- 
titled story by Stanley Anderson, are 
under , scrutiny, / ' . , :\ 

MacLean; .is .^Skedcd , to start, the 
initial Cagney /vehicle,' 'Great Guy,' 
Oct. 15 at Pathe. John Blystone will 
direct from the James Edward Grant 
and Henry Johnson script. ' 

Charles Bickford will play a lead 
In and direct 'Wild ,Men\as"'his first 
picture fbr'GN. ^o'ductiqh is' set for 
Ifoy.'/i starti'. : Cpmp%ny.;'aisp .holds 
opjjioji on actor for- three, more pic- 
tures. • : Y 



Yesterday'* Prices 



..Shlea. High 
■1)00 Co!.' Ptet.: «% 
. 300 Cod. Film. VA 
40O Bast. K...177% 
13,400 Gen. El... 48% 

6,000 to6\v 6814 

8,700 Paramount 18% 
3,300- Do 2<j.p£. 12% 
1.700 Pathe .... VA 
13,800 RCA , . . 1114- 

1,700 BKO . 7H' 

2 t 600 20th-Fox... 81% 
6,700 W. Bj^.. . . , 13% 
CURB 

000 Grand. N... 3ft' 

8,000 Tech < 27% 

1,100 TranB-b . . a% 
, ' BONDS 
$0,600 Keith .... 90 

6 000 Loew 90 ■ 

11,000 Par-Ei way. •«* '• 
38,000 Parnm't ..♦08V4 
10,000 W. B «7K 

•New 1030 high. 



Net 

.Low.Lant. cbg. 
4014 vnk 

17454 .177S4 +3% 
47H 48. +.94- 
— 6914 + % 
1274- %■ 

rm-r %• 

B'/4 +. % 
11 

VA- % 
8U4+94 



68- 
12% 
•12% 

8 
11 

7% 
81 



1394 l3'/4 

394- 8%+V 

2614 27 Jt + Tt 

394 894 



00 
9894 

08 
07 



90 +114 
0894+ % 
64 +1% 
08V4 + 'A 
87 




BALK 2,000 FT. 




While a satisfactory solution of 
difficulties on the 2,000-foot, reels in 
Chicago looms, the ban on: larger 
spools in the state of Massachusetts 
still is hanging "Bre and the N. Y.' 
city ordinance has yet to be re-, 
vamped.' If the Chicago situation is 
adjusted, the Bay State .and New 
York will .be the only two remaining 
■sore spots on 2^000-f ooters • in the 
U. S.. * 

Representatives and technical ' ex- 
perts of the film industry presented 
their case! before the Massachusetts 
commissioner of - public safety in 
Boston about' 10 days ago*. They 
were preparing to lay down' rules 
that would have prohibited the use 
of reels exceeding 1,000 feet in size. 

There still are a number of foreign 
countries which refuse to use 2,000- 
foot reels, -making it necessary for 
distributing companies to prepare 
pictures in 1,000-foot length for. ex- 
hibitors in these nations. . .. 




SHAKESPEARE SPOTTY 



4-6 Weeks Fer 'Borneo' ( In L. A. — 
'Dream' Big So-S» 



' Hollywood, Oct 6. 

First week's business of "Romeo 
and Juliet' at the Carthay Circle 
here indicates that the picture will 
get a four-week run^and possibly 
six. Columbia's 'Lost* Horizon* is 
being readied to follow "Juliet* in, 
with Metro's 'Good Earth' in turn 
probably succeeding "Horizon' at the 
road-show house. ■ . '■• 

Metro is making an intensive drive 
in schools and. colleges to bolster the 
attendance at "Romeo . and -.Juliet' 
showing's. Lecturers are . being 
spotted to give impetus ,to theatre 
parties among the studes. 



'Midsummer Night's Dream,' which"] 
was very extensively roadshown .by 
Warner. Bros., is now starting on 
regular release. Picture opened in 30 
key spots over the weekend. Of these 
dates,' only in New York is it playing 
against other' Shakespearean* picture, 
'Romeo arid Juliet.' 

Various committees organized dur- 
ing the roadshowing of 'Dream' are 
cooperating . with theatres on the 
regular pop priced runs of the pic 
ture. 



N.W.S RECORD 
THEATRE BLDG. 



. Biff. Spools In Australia,-. 
t . Melbourne,. Sept. ,-8. ' 
RKO-Radio, Fox and Par will: in- 
troduce the new 2,000-ft spools into 
this country next week. - 
' Previously ' only 1,000-ffv -spools 
have been used; but with the new 
ruling commg into vogije in America 
the same will , apply to Australia. 



Briskin S&i 8 for Oct 



Hollywood, Oct 6. 
Sam J. Briskin is putting eight new 
pictures into production at RKO this 
month, • making third consecutive 
similar period in which this lias been 
done. 

Those coming up, are 'Criminal 
Lawyer,' . 'Mother Carey's Chickens,'- 
'They Wanted to Marry,' "We, the 
Jury,' 'Second Mart,' 'Michael Stro- 
goff.' 'Miss Customs Agent' and 
'Coast Patrol.' 



Goldwyn Aidesto Samoa, 
Scrutinizing 'Hurricane' 

Hollywood, Oct -6. 
Richard Day, art director, and 
Percy Ilkerd, assistant director, are 
sailing to Samoa Oct. 14 to survey 
locale for production of the Charles 
Nordhoff-james Norman Hall novel, 
'Hurricane,* most of which will be 
filmed in the South Seas. 

Goldwyn paid $60,000 for this" nar- 
rative before it was published. 
They're the authors of 'Mutiny on 
the Bounty.* 



'ADVERSP SOLO IN 44 
RKO'ERS IN N. Y. CITY 



Twin-bill .policy of ttie RKOs 
metropolitan . New York' theatres 
win go into/discard as dates demand 
in order to make way ,f.0r 'tbe 'soio 
screening df 'Anthony, Adverse,' 
.which., the chain/ has purchased for 
a.! full- week showing in, its ,44 
Greater N. Y. houses. Houses . will 
return to their ;. normal policy fol- 
lowing' the shewing of this film; 

RKO • * theatres switched - policy 
previously ifor 'Midsummer Night's 
Dream' (WB) r which was spotted on 
a tw6->day basis, selectively ' in ?er- 
tain of the RK6 houses. . 

Other Alms also have been .played 
solo, by RKO theatres as occasion 
demanded, such as RKO's - Astaire- 
Rogers. musicals. 

Operators' Pineapples : 
Has $10,000 Suit Kickback 

Pittsburgh, Oct 6. 

Claiming injuries received in an 
explosion at the Garden theatre here 
on> May.21, 1934» during a con- 
troversy between' union and non- 
union operators, Mrs. Elizabeth W. 
Coey and .'her husband, Charles 
Coey, filed suit in Common Pleas 
court' last week for $10,000 damages 
against the Northside Amus. Co.. 

The explosion is alleged to have 
been caused by a bomb placed in 
the house. The •plaintiffs. claim the 
management was negligent in fail- 
ing to provide proper protection for 
patrons when house knew there was 
such a controversy. Coeys also 
charge bombings had Occurred .dur- 
ing that period, in. other, indie 
houses and that Garden had taken 
no precautions for its patrons. 

WB'« New Acreage 

Hollywood, Oct. 6. 
Warners has added 30 acres lo- 
cated near Its Burbank plant Paid 
$50,000 for the land. 

Exterior sets will be . erected on 
the area. 



Minneapolis, Oct 6. 
Biggest theatre building program 
since 1928 is now in progress.ih'the 
territory, according to a~ survey just 
made. : Approximately 32 houses 
already have been built this year at 
a cost of nearly $1,000,000,. about a 
dozen are in course of. construction 
or at -the stage where- work will start 
and/ - at . least 15 more are being 
planned— six of them m Minneapolis. 
. The extent to which new show- 
houses are springing up is illustrated 
in ' the; '• case ' of International Falls, 
Minn. . In this. ' town, of 5,000, . two 
hew '990--sedt theatres are being built. 
Town now has a 390'seat house, so 
that with the completion of the new 
theatres, it, will -havs 2,000 seats« or 
almost one for every two residents, 
probably a record for overseatdng. 



THREE GRIDIRON PIX 
SET FOR RELEASING 



- . Hollywood,' Oct 6. - 
Three picture football entries have 
been skeded 'for early ' release, RKO 
is first with . the '.'Big Game,' dated 
for Oct. -0. Paramount . puts .''Rose 
Bawl' on the field Oct 30, with 20th- 
Fox trotting out 'Pigskin' Parade,' a 
musical, satire, Oct. 20.. -. •. ., ;. . 
• Universal, Warners, Columbia and 
Metro reneged on football yarns. All 
except Metro made such yam's, but 
without b.o. luck. ; 

Par. used JJSC's sguad in its pic- 
ture.. Picture got unintended exploi- 
tation through complaint from sup- 
porters .-of Oregon State, after their 
recent,game that USC got early prac- 
tice by performing in the film. Par 
claimed gridders did not work as a 
unit 



Rep Readies last- 



„., .. Hollywood,. Oct.' 6. 
Republic's production of Richard 
Henry Dana's 'Two Years Before the 
Mast' is scheduled to start in mid- 
October. Al Levoy will produce 
from .the script written by Cy Bart- 
let and Gordon Rigby,. 

Studio .is seeking male topper for 
the film, which will be given a 
heavy budget by the studio. 



$250 Reward, $70 Sbcknp 



Hollywood, Oct. 6. 
First theatre stickup hero in three 
years netted $70 at the El Portal. 

.Thief was picked. up three hours 
latervon a tip by a taxi driver, who 
won a $250 reward. 



' Minneapolis, Oct. 6. 

A move to block the construction 
of any morie. new. theatye^herei. until 
the population .ha£., yeached . 550,000 
(it's 450,000- now) is precipitating a 
hot fight in the city council. 

The prohibitory ordinance,- which 
would place showhouses. in a public 
utility classification,, .already has 
been introduced .in the -council, and 
was the storm . center of a' heated 
hearing when. proponents and oppon- 
ents had their inning. 

Following- more than two hours of 
arguments, the measure was referred 
to the city legal „ department for an 
opinion regarding; ' jte ^constitution- 
ality and for a further , airing of its 
merits at th(e-next ,-committee meet- 
ing' two weeks henceV "' : 

Prompted by the, fact that no less 
than six , new neighborhood ; houses 
are being; plapned by, individuals* not 
now engaged in the show jbosiness, 
the bill's Origin is* Clouded in mys- 
tery. Both. Publix and - Northwest 
Allied States.deny they. instigated it, 
although Theodore Hays, PubJ-ix of- 
ficial,, appeared .befpre. the commit- 
tee to urge its passage: - 

No sooner had the proposed ; meas- 
ure been, read than . Alderman C. R. 
Rosander leapt to his feet, demand- 
ing to know how was prepared 
and who proposed It. ; The 'answer 
given by Alderman^ E.- I. , Hudson, 
committee chairmari, one of its pro- 
ponents, was that.-!a .group: of people 
went to the theatre men and\got the 
idea organized/ Replying further to 
Rosander, Hudson said 1 that • a former 
city attorney "probably drew it' 

'Someone apparently wants to shut 
off building - of ne$ . Jbeatres,' said 
Alderman RosanderV.Vy 'Why should 
we give those, ah?ea<jy : in . the- show 
business here a monopoly when we 
don't do it for other ' lines of in- 
dustry? Besides new building creates 
jobs.' 

Those arguing In the bill's favor 
declared . the city ,s already' , is over- 
seated and that more, new, theatres 
would 'reduce present standards' and 
might be a bad influence. iDeclaring 
he. expressed the sentiments: of 26 
churches, Ernest Zimmer urged , ap- 
proval of the. measure. Pressed by 
a colleague as to Whether he re- 
garded the Boulevard (neighborhood 
theatre) in his.ward a 4tad infiuenca,' 
-Alderman W. R. Robb said 'some 
very good pictures offer some bad 
ideas.' . . 

The tity now. has 62 theatres with 
51,000 capacity, ot about nine ' resi- 
dents for each seat' Several of the 
62 houses now are closed. ~" 



PHILLV DUALS CASE 
UP FOR REHEARING 



irlng sought 



Ph'iiatalpniaf 6ii 

Arguments for a,ri " 
by major distrib'BtorSJSai- the now 
celebrated Harry Rerehnan (Lehigh 
Theatre) dual features case, were 
completed today , in federal court 
here before Judges Buffington, Davis 
and Thompson. . Decision • was. re- 
served, • with likelihood-' HhW it • tylll 
not be -handed' dbwit-for -four to six 
weeks;' ' R^gardless^bf • ffie 'Wfcbme. 
it is believed th^ lo^g'-party-.^ill 
carry the case to 'ftie -U, SI. Supreme 
Court if necessary. • :*;-i-£ ■ 

Testimony ■ today,: was. i nearly a 
repetition jf that given at the prelim 
hearing; Plaintiff "Pereim'ah 'con- 
tends that showing of dual picture 
programs involves interstate com- 
merce and as such Comes under the 
Sherman anti-trust law. Originally, 
the Perelman suit was brought in be- 
half of virtually all independent ex- 
hibitors in the Philadelphia area but 
the original victory in the cQurts, 
won by th< indies,, how.. is being de- 
fended by Benjamip M.. Colder, one 
of plaintiffs, counsel; almost alone 
because so many independent exhibi- 
tors have dropped by the wayside. 
Other counsel for Perelman is Otto 
Kraus; Jr., but it is the coin of 
Golder, former' Congressman, that 
reputedly is. now carrying on. the 
fight for the indies. 



Abbe Kids for Pix 

Mollywood, Oct. 6. 
Three Abbe children, Patience. 
Richard and John, who authored 
'Around the World'iri 11 Years;* have 
arrived here for possible picture 
work. . 

Studios are being propositioned to . 
put them in a picturization of 'A 
High Wind in Jamaica.' 



Wedn&a«y, October 7, 1936 



R1CT 



E GROSSES 



VARIETY 



Loop Eases Off Generally, with Kg 
Chi Only $2?,000 on 'Jim'; TMohics 

C ftO., $6,000 




Chicago, Oct. 6. 
(Best Exploitation: State-Lake) 

•Loop continued to settle down last 
week and the.' current week opened 
only with fair trade. Picture prod- 
uct seems to have lost its wallop and 
the theatres >Wb> now beginning to 
.'look around to'stage attractions to 
hold up the business. 

The Chicago 'is wobbling this week 
with 'Piccadilly Jim,' attracting only 
$27,000. 'Last of the Mohicans' isn't 
living up to hopes at the Roosevelt. 

,'Swing Time* goes out Friday (9) 

• . af ter five weeks at the. Chicago. Four 

would have been enough. 'Sing, 
Baby, Sing'- Is going into its second 
week at the Garrick after a record 
initial session." 

Fritz Blocki stepped off with the 
exploitation honors on the week, 
sweeping space and comment for the 
. State-Lake show. 

"/ 'Estimates for' This Week 

Apollo (B&K) (1,200; . 25-35-65)— 
•Adverse' (WB), (2d run). Comes in 
here after fortnight at Chicago. Good 
week for the flicker here at $6,000. 
Last- week 'Ziegfeld' (MG) finally 
scrammed out of the Loop after havr 
ing. been around off-and-oh for 
" nearly s\x months. Out with $7,100,. 

^Chicago (B&K) (4.000; 35-55-75)— 
- 'Piccadilly Jini' (MG). and stage 

• show. At $27,000, one -of the lowest 
marks here- in- recent hionths. Last 
week 'American Wife' (Par), $29,000, 
faftish/ / ■ .- 

parrick (B&JCl (900; 25-35-55)— 
■Stag, Baby' (20th) (2d week). Good 
$6;0O0 ort holdover after $10,200, big, 
last week. 
Oriental (B&K) (3,200; 25-40)— 
: 'Yours for Asking* (Parf and vaude. 

Around $16,000, ■ so-so. Last week 
. . 'Dr. Forbes' (20th) and unit, good, 
$15,000.. 

Palace (RKO) (2,500; 35-55-75)— 
'Swing Time' (RKO) and 'Shooting 
High* unit (5th and final week). Fin- 
ishes Friday (9) after three-and-a- 
half big weeks and about 10 days of 
mediocre- trade. Slipping fast cur- 
rently to $15,000, just fair. Last, week 
good $17,700. 

Roosevelt (B&K) (1,500; 35-45-65) 
—'Last of Mohicans' (UA) (1st 
week). : Hardly better than $10,000. 
Hasn't, caught on. Last week 'Gen- 
eral Died' (Par) (3d week), oke, 
$8 800 ' 

State-Lak* (Jones) (2,700; 20-25- 
3Q-35-40)r-'Postal Inspector' (U) and 
. '.Continental Gaieties^ unit. Around 
$15,000, . big profit. Last week 
•Sophie Lang' (Par), solid, $14,200. 

United'. Artists (B&K-UA) (1,700; 
35-55-7$)— 'Hussy' (MG) (3d -and 
final week).. Out this week though 
: could Mick longer; $13,000; Big $18,- 
300 last week. 

, Erlanrer (1,200; 55-83-$1.10-$1.25)— 
'Romeo, and. Juliet' (MG). Out Sat- 
urday (3) after; six fair weeks. Fell 
off,, towards finish and faded to $8,-. 
00Q, weakj fox finale. 

'Adverse^ilOM 



S JB 



. Indianapolis, Oct. 6. 

(Best Exploitation: Circle) 

, rAnthony Adverse,' with the price 
being, upped . a. bit to the 55c. top 
marki. i^JjittJng. B.jwift pace at the 
EtotethMH indicates a substantial 
."0,000 pn the week. 'Give Me Your 
w$art, . .combined with a vaude show 
headlining ; the .Salici ! Puppets, .is 
only. a step behind at the Lyric with 
a .fine. . $9,500 in. prospect at the 
nouse s usual 40c ; top price scale. 

Book iieup ads with a leading 
department, t s,tor.e, costume and 
fashion i display tieups with another, 
and a flock of window displays and 
Placards - with a book- distributing 
company are among the highlights 
Qijthe- campaign on 'Anthony Ad- 

v crs©# '\ 

Estimates for This Week 
Apollo (Fourth Ave) (1,100; 25-40) 
—Ramona' (20th-F6x).. Second week 
il;f°° d a* $3,750. Same pic in its 
.first week did dandy $6.000. 
' c . ,r ?J« {Monarch) (2,800: 25-35-55) 
—-Anthony Adverse' (WB). Tilted 
fSS^^S^^ ^n^nS'grofjS to.a v very 
T 2? k ^^-OOOji judging ; by- eartf pace. 
wS t * v 55? l '\ a aual-of 'My. American 

f^M lghtwei 6 ht at $ 3 » 9 °° at 40c. top 
(U6ual) scale. ~ -f - 

V»^r w \A Loe w's) (2,600; 25-40)— 
•S&iv* 0 ^ (UA > • dualled with 
orn „ I *emy'.- (MG). Former pic 
given all the attention and credit for 
7; 8ood $7,500. Last *week 'Great 

- ? e $& ld (MG) at 55c - scale in' its 
■ second week did $6,000, oke. 

•G??/ V°i? on) (2,000», 25-30-40)- 

- Me Your Heart' <(WB). and 
■ li«£?- J-^y Francis and pic stressed 

K5 , rt?s P°?sibIe for swell $9,500. 

'Down the Stretch' (WB) 

•V at"^8 300 Spitalnyband 0n sta *? e okay 



'RANGERS/ 20G, B'KLYN 

Drawing Best fife as Borough Goes 
for Hoss Opry. 

Brooklyn, Oct. 6. 
(Best Exploitation: Fox) 

Anything can happen in the' city 
of churches and it usually, does. 
This week unexpected is occurring 
at Fabian's Fox, where 'Texas 
■Rangers' and 'Alibi for Murder' pro- 
duced record biz and necessitated 
temporary shutdown of b.o. House 
will get magnificent $20,000 'and 
holdover another week. Fox, ■ as 
rule, is one-week run. house. 

Paramount in third ■ week with 
Anthony Adverse' looks to okay 
$15,000 while 'Last of Mohicans' at 
Loew's Met, aided by good depart- 
ment store tieups, will derive okay 
$17,000. 

Joe Lee's exploitation campaign at 
Fox called for 50,000 heralds 
throughout community; 50 24 sheets; 
500 three sheets; several spectacular 
floats, drawing contests in score Of 
nabe 'gazettes and two radio station 
tieups. ' •;' 

' . Estimates for This Week ' 
^fclbee (3,400; 25-35-50) — 'Sing 
Baby, Sing' (20th) and 'Don't Turn 
'Em Loose' (RKO). Twins will snare 
satisfactory $17,000. Last- .week 
'Swing Time' (RKO) (2d week). $18,- 
0Q0,. good. 

. Fox: (4,000; 25-35-50) — Texas 
Rangers' (?ar) and 'Alibi for Mur- 
der' (Col). Surprise r at downtown 
area by drawing throng to tune of 
$20,000, magnificent, Will hold over. 
Last week 'Met in Taxi' .(Col) and 
'Sitting on Moon' (Rep), $13,000, 
good. ' ■•• 

. Met (3,400; 25-35-50)— 'Last of Mo- 
hicans' (UA) and 'Kelly the Second' 
(MG). Dualers expected to get okay 
$17,000. Last week 'Gorgeous Hussy' 
(MG) (2d week), $19,000, fine. 

Par (4,000; 25-35-50) — 'Anthony 
Adverse* (WB) (3d week): At $15,000 
fine. Last week splendid $18,000. 

Strand (2,000: 25-35-40)— Two in a 
Crowd' (U) and 'I am Fugitive from 
Chain Gang* (WB) $7,000, good. Last 
week Three Married Men' (Par) 
and Trouble Ahead' (Atlantic) $5,- 
000, satisfactory. : 

'GODFREY' DUSTING OFF 
WASH. FOR BIG $19,500 

• Washington, Oct. 0." 
(Best Exploitation: Capitol) . 

B^g interest this week is 'My Man 
Godfrey,' which is bidding to wind 
up first week at Keith's with sock 
$19,500. Pic helped greatly by fol- 
lowing .five-week run of 'Swing 
Time,' during all of which time 
Powell-Lombard, combo was heavily 
plugged. • Rest of .town is satisfied 
with average takes except Palace,, 
which looks to roll-up smash second 
week with .'Great Ziegfeld.' 

Top bally honors go to Capitol for 
stunt on 'Glorified Follies' on stage, 
including tug-bfrwar between gals 
on street and flock of yarns on for- 
mer Ziegfeld beauties in line. 

• ' Estimates -for This Week 

Belasco (Radin) (1,100; 25-35-50)— 
'Dinner at Eight' (MG) (revival). 
Opened last night (Monday) to aver- 
age biz. Last week 'Magnificent Ob- 
session' (U) (revival) wound up 
with average $3,000. 

Capitol, (Loew) (3,424; 25-35-60)— 
'Old Hutch' (MG) and vaude. Beery 
and mudh-ballied 'Glorified Follies' 
won't better fair. $19,000.. Last week 
'American Wife' (Par), and amsjtook 
good $21,000. " ' ■■■■ 

Columbia (Loew) (1,583; 25-40)— 
'Road to Glory' (20th-Fox) (2d run). 
Second week on main stem headed 
for oke $4,500. Last week 'Gor- 
geous Hussy' (MG) (2d run) took 
big $5,500 in fourth stanza down- 
town. 

Keith's (RKO) (1.830; 25-35-60)— 
'My Man Godfrey' (U). Heading for 
smash $19,500. Last week 'Swing 
Time' (RKO) (4th week) oke $4,000 
for five days. • ■ 

Earle (WB) (2,424; 25-35-40-60-70) 
—'Give Me Your Heart' (WB) and 
vaude. Kay.. Francis, with Paul 
Draper on sfage^ should get oke $17,- 
500. Last week, 'Texas Rangers 
(WB) and Leo Carrillo good $18,000. 

Met (WB) (1,853; 25-40)— 'Seven 
Sinners* (GB). Shooting for good 
$5,000. Last week 'Anthony' Adverse 
(WB) (2d run) pulled oke $5,000 for 
third week downtown. 

-Palace (Loew) (2.363; 25-35-60)— 
'Great Ziegfeld' (MG) (2d week). 
Second stanza at pop prices aiming 
at big $10,000. Last week same pic, 
$19,000: very good. 
Rialto (Indie) ' (1,100: 25-30-40-50) 
-'Grand Hotel' (MG) (revival) 
should get oka $4,200 in 10 days. 



'Adverse/ 13G, Montreal 

. Montreal, Oct. 6. 
(Best Exploitation: Capitol) 

Capitol will top the town cur- 
rently with 'Anthony Adverse,' with 
standees opening three nights and 
a gross that cannot be much under. 
$13,000. Palace repeats 'Swing Time,* 
which, while good last week, was 
just' a little disappointing and cur- 
rently should gross $8,0P0, Loew's 
was a little under the markiast week 
but this week on 'Texas Rangers' 
and vaude should pick up to $12,000. 

Tom Cleary is tying up the whole 
town on 'Adverse.' He has every 
one of the big department stores 
lined up and virtually every book 
store filling their windows with 
copies of the book with placards ad- 
vertising it at the Capitol. 

Estimates for This Week 

PalaM (CT) (2,700; -50)— 'Swing 
Time' (RKO) (2d week). Grossed 
a good $11,000 last week and should 
follow up with $8,000. 

Capitol (CT). (2,700;' 50)— 'Anthony 
Adverse' (WB). Town getting .all 
pepped uo over this one and opening 
night crowds make it look like $13,- 
000, very good. Last week-'Give Me 
Your Heart* (WB) and 'Walking on 
Air' (RKO), ^$8,000, gtood. : . 

Loew's (M. T. Co..) (3,200; 50)— 
'Texas Rangers'- (Par) and vaude. 
Goodmpening and weekend, should 
mean $12,000. Disappointing last 
week at $10,000 • on 'Hollywood 
Boulevard' (Par) and George Olsen 
orch. 

Princess (CT) (2,300; 50)— Ramona* 
(20th) and 'Back to Nature' (20th). 
$7,000, good. Last week, 'Road to 
Glory' (20th) and 'Here Comes 
Trouble* (20th), fair at $0,000. 

Cinema de Paris (France-Film) 
(600; 50)-V.Meyerling' O-th week). 
Will 'still gross. $2,000, after $2,300 
in seventh week. ■ 

St. Denis (France Film) (2,300: 34) 
-^'L'Argent*. and "Le Souris Bleu.' 
Ought to gross $4,500. Last week 
'Les Deux' Gamines' and 'Coup de 
Vent,' $3,500. 



'Zieggy SI*, 1 




In Del; All 
Houses Open 



. . Detroit, Oct. 6. 
(Best Exploitation: Madison) 

Town has highest number of first 
runs, seven, in more than year, and 
coin is pretty well distributed. An- 
other, vaudfllmer, Downtown, joins 
the parade Oct. 16 and loop will be 
minus, a dark house for first time in 
about two. years. • 

Highlight currently Is the pop 
price showing of 'Great Ziegfeld' at 
the United Artists. Aided by upped 
scale; 40-50-75, - over the usual 
30-40-65, Kicker js zooming; to $16,000. 
Two vaudefllmers, fox -and Michi- 
gan, aren't up to snuff .this week, but' 
both' figure to. do more than an oke 
$20,000, the former with 'Ramona' 
and the Michigan, playing 'Gay 
Desperado.' 

On selling of 'Swing Time,' Madi- 
son didn't miss s trick. Had. tieups 
with Packard on Fred Astaire; put 
on big opening Friday eve; used 
plenty of street car cards and daily 
press' ads; got reams of copy '^nd art 
on pic in press on flicker and' hew 
Mirrorphonic sound stuff; plus radio 
plugs, etc; :.\ . . 

Estimates for This Week 

Adams (Balaban) (1,700; 25-40)— 
Two in Crowd' (ti) and 'Shakedown' 
(Col), dual. Slightly above average 
at $5,000. Nice $5,300. last week on 
'Met in Taxi' (Col) and Tfellowstone' 
(U). 

. . Cass (Indie) (1,400; $1.65 top)— 
'Romeo and Juliet' (MG) (4th week). 
Continues at oke clip; $7,000 on sev- 
en days ending Saturday (3). Will 
hold for fifth and final week, end- 
ing Oct. 10. 

Fox (Indie) (5,000; 30-40-65)— 
'Ramona' (20th) and vaude with 
Mary Small and Al Trahan. Plenty 
Of opposish, but good $22,000. Oke 
$20,000 last stanza, on 'Craig's Wife' 
(Col), and Block and Sully. 

Madison (United' Detroit) (2,000; 
30-40-65)— 'Swing Time' (RKO) and 
March of Time. Plenty of build-up 
well in advance; nice $14,000 cur- 
rently. Figures for at least two 
weeks, followed by 'Mary of Scot- 
land* and pop price 'Midsummer 
Night's Dream.' 

Michigan (United Detroit) (4,000; 
30-40-65)— 'Gay Desperado* (UA) 
and Glen Gray band. At $22,000, 
good. Big $30,000 last stanza on 
'Your Heart' (WB), plus Ken May- 
nard and Borrah Minevitch on stage. 

State (United Detroit) (3,000; 25- 
40)— 'Let's Sing Again' (Princ) and 
'General Died' (Par), dual. Second 
week for 'Gen,' following first ses- 
sion at UA. Nice $5,500. Fine $5,400 
last week on' 'Son Comes Home' 
(Par) and 'Velvet Claws' (WB). 

United Artists (United Detroit) 
(2,000; 40-50-75)— 'Ziegfeld' (MG). 
Aided by upped admish, pop price 
showing of this film is heading for a 
hangup $16,000 this week, and w^U 
hold for couple of weeks. Good 
$10,000- last stanza on 'General Died' 
(Par). - ' - ■ ' 



Sports Big Opposish But B way 
OK; 'Craig's Wife at $80,000, 
'Queen 32G, Dream' Grind 25G 



(Best Exploitation: Boxy) 

Broadway is being tamed down a 
bit this week with many factors 
combining against top gross possi- 
bilities but ©n the whole the film 
theatres .are doing well enough to 
keep aspirin sales from going up. 
The World's Series, football games 
and also on Saturday (3) the Bel- 
mont Park Futurity, which drew 
tremendous crowds, constitute the 
boxoff ice enemy of the week. In 
view of the opposition, it may be 
considered remarkable that the total 

k , e J?J fllm hous es isn't smaller. 

While it is felt in managerial 
circles that the loss oh matinees 
from baseball is made up through 
increased business at night, a lot of 
tHe. out : of-towners are also spread- 
ing their spare change aroung res- 
taurants, the night clubs and bars. 
T . h f_ Music Hall, a. natural on the 
sightseeing list, is believed to be 
benefiting the most from the influx of 
people for the series and Saturday's 
hoss racing. fCraig's Wife.' incum- 
bent there, has been receiving a 
sturdy night play and .will do sur- 
prisingly well at $80,000 or over. 

Nine Days a Queen,' which came 
to- rest at the Roxy ; 'Kelly the Sec- 
°? d i. at * he Rialto and the dual bill 
of TWor in a Crowd' and Thank' You, 
Jeeves' at the RKO Palace, are the 
other first run starters of the week. 
Th . e - X ?? 3 {y .People A are. a little disap- 
pointed oyer ^'Nine Days a Queen' 
but may get $32,000 anyway, which 
iS"gop.d.for thej-'British'.mado. 'Kelly' 
may push' its way to a so-so $7,000, 
while the two-ply bill a.t the Pal is 
calculated to mean about $10,000. 
■ Holdovers and second runs are in 

i he ^x m ^ 0?it y a * ain ' 'Midsummer 
Night s Dream' on Saturday (3) hav- 
ing joined 'Great Ziegfeld' as a 
former $2 roadshow going grind. 
Dream' had a good , Saturday, fell 
down a bit on Sunday and faltered 
Badly Monday (&),..which suggests a 
hard drive to get $25,000 On,*he first 
week: of- its*bop^ruli?in New York. 
:Picture had a neat $2 run at the 
Hollywood last fall. •»'" • ' 

With 'Dream' at the Strand and 
'Romeo' at the Aistor, latter On a 
two'-a-dayengagemept, ■ Shakespeare 
is versus Shakespeare this week but 
while •Romeo* sagged on the . week 
to the extent of $2,700, it isn't being 
blamed on fie Strand.- Latter goes a 
sgcond week. Although the dip for 
Romeo is more than may have been 
expected, . gross last week coming 
down to $14,600. Metro is still mak- 
.ing a good profit out of the roadshow 
and expects it may hold through 
Thanksgiving'. ■ 

' 'Ziegfeld,' which had a long run at 
the Astor, is continuing stoutly at 
the Capitol and on its" third week 
(current), the business should -total 
$3,s,000, excellent. This is a drop of 
only $5,000 from the second week. 
The Devil Is a Sissy V. is next here 
and may come in Friday (16), with 
'Zieggy' going a fourth lap. A fifth is 
doubtful. 

Another second run; 'Mohicans' at 
the State, supported by vaudeville, 
is on its way to a fine $30,000. 
George Hall's orchestra, heading the 
stage show, is aiding. 

The Paramount, RivOll and Cri- 
terion are the holdover houses. Sec- 
ond week for. Texas Rangers' and 
the Will Osborne orchestra at the 
Par, ending last night (Tiies.) is $29,- 
000, okay. 'Dodswbrth,' on its second 
week at the Riv, ending last night 
(Tues.) rather good at nearly $35,000, 
while 'Give Me Ypur Heart' is okay 
at $15,000 on its. third (final Hveek at 
the Criterion. - 'Ramona' was brought 
in on a preview at .the Crlt last night 
(Tues.), the Par same time shipping 
in 'Valiant Is the Word for Carrie.' 
Enric Madriguera's orchestra, John 
Steel and Maxine Gray go into the 
Par pit today (Weii,). 

The exploitation campaign for 
'Nine Days a Queen,' put on by A. L. 
Selig of Abe .Wajffllah's ■ Gaumont- 
British st^ff, in cooperation with the 
Roxy, was extensive, and probably 
helps account ' for business being 
drawn. The job included fashion 
tie-up with Macy's, 13-day contest in 
the Mirror (tab), a pictorial, series of 
historical outlines of Lady Jane 
Grey in six installments in the 
Brooklyn Times-Union, a tie-up with 
the Postal Telegraph calling for dis- 
tribution of 25,000 heralds, special 40 
by 60 blowups for the Boxy lobby, 
special screenings for professors, and 
teachers, radio tie-ups and a special 
newspaper ad campaign. . 

Estimates for This Week 
Astor (1,012; 55-$1.10-$1.65-$2.20)— 
'Romeo' (MQ) (7th week). Sagged 
$2,700 last week, picture's sixth, 
grossing $14,600 against prior week's 
$17,300, but still showing good profit 
for Metro and expected to go through 
Thanksgiving. ' 

Capitol (4,620; 25-35-55-85-$1.25)— 
'Ziegfeld' (MG) (3d week). Former 
two-a-day attraction still pulling 
strong, $35,000- this week. . This is 



not far behind the second week's 
take of $40,000 and goes a fourth 
week. .' : : 

Criterion (1,662; . 25-55-75-85-$1.10- 
$1.25)— 'Give Me Your Heart' (WB) 
(3d-flnal week).- Very profitable 
opener for hou&, third week ending 
last night (Tues.) adding $15,000 to 
take which was $20,000 second week 
and $36,000 the first. 'Ramona' (20th) 

Palace' (1,700; 25-35-55)— 'Two in 
Crowd' (U) (1st run), and 'Thank 
You, Jeeves' (U) (1st run), dualed. 
Maybe $10,000, good. Last week's 
single bill of 'Swing Time* (RKO), 
$11,000. 

Paramount (3,664; 25-35-55-85)— 
Texas Rangers' (Par) and Will Os- 
borne orchestra (2d-flnal week). Got 
$39,000 last week (1st) and on sec- 
ond at $29,000, ending last night ■ 
(Tues.) holds to a good figure. 'Val- 
iant Is Word for Carrie* (Par), with 
Enric Madriguera orchestra, . John 
Steel and. Maxine Gray as the pit 
show, succeeds. 

Radio City Music Hall (5,989; 40- 
60-85-99-$1.65)— 'Craig's Wife' (CoI> 
and stage show. Big crowds in town . 
helping this one to $80,000 or better, 
good. Last week, second for 'God- 
frey* (U), $76,000, 

Rialto (750; 25-40-65)^'Kelly the : 
Second' (MG). Ticket sales oh this :. 
one may add up to $7,000, fair. 'Don't 
Turn 'Em Loose' (RKO), held for 
10 days, took $11,000. 

BIvoll (2,092;. -25-55-75-85-99)— 
'Dodsworth' (UA) (2d week). Went 
to $40,000 first week and on second, • 
up last night (Tues.), near $35,000. 
Stays a third and probably a fourth 
week, .. 

Boxy (5,836; 25-45-55-75)— 'Nine. 
Days a Queen' (GB) and stage show* * 
Management expected to top possible 
$32,000 but isn't .squawking about 
this figure, good here. No holdover, : 
'Dimples' (20th); being set to open 
Friday (9). This will be a world 
premiere for the new Shirley Temple 
starrer. The third week for 'Sing, - 
Baby, Sing' (20th) was 1 $36,300, build- , 
ing to strong finish. - • 
: Strand .<2/767; 40-44^65-9*)^-^- . 
summer Night's Dream' (WB) (2d 
run); - In here for a. -pop run about - 
nine months after picture's two-a- ' 
day $2 engagement at/the Hollywood, • 
Business is not< powerful, but- lias a 
chance for $25,000* holds second . 
week'. 'Stage.StrucV (WB) couldn't 
compete with' the rest of. the town 
last week, slipping under* $20,000, but 
okay. . 

State (3,450; 35-55-75)— 'Mohicans' • 
(UA) and vaude headed by George - 
Hall orchestra;. Piling 'em In here. - 
for week of $30,000 or more, excel- . 
lent." Last week 'Gorgeous Hussy' 
(MG), aided by Don Bestor's orches-* '■• 
tra, $32,000;" .•" 

Hussy,' 2dm, Big 

$5,000 in Porthnd 

Portland, Ore,, Oct. 0. 
(Best- Exploitation: Paramoan^ . 

- All biz shows a terrific air of op- : 
timism. Grosses . ate ; climbjpg ' 
steadily 'and reaching the fiQint ' 
where $6 ; 000 no longer means It's ' 
worth holding the pic. J. J. Parker 
theatres are booked up solid vrith ; 
strong pic product for nearly fftur , 
months in advance, with not an ' 
available week in sight to take care 
of extra bookings, . < 

- 'Gorgeous Hussy' is wowing them' 
in a second stanza at the UA. 'Gen- 
eral Died at Dawn' is answering 
strongly to top exploitation pressure ... 
turned on by the Evergreen Para- ' 
mount. That house used an extra 1 
dose of billboards to sell 'General' 
well in advance. . 

Estimates' for This Week 

Broadway (Parker) (2.000; 30-40)— ' 
'Stage Struck' (FN) and .'Devil Doll' > 
(MG). Nice biz. in- spite of strong - 
competish,and going, for okay $6,500. 
Last week 'China Clipper' (FN>->rfd 
'Case of the Velvet Claw' (FN) got 
fair $5,600, 

Mayfair (Parker - Evergreen) 
(1,400; 30-40)— 'State Fair' (Fox), re- 
vival, and There's Always Tomor- 
row' (U). Getting fair $2,500. Last 
week (admish 35-55) .Mareus* musi- : 
cal road unit, 'La Vie Paree.' billed 
above pic 'Kelly the Second' (MG), 
and registered big $6,700. . . 

Orpheum (Hamnck - Evergreen) 
(2,000; 30-40) 'Swing Time' (RKO) 
(3d wk), Fair $3,000. Last week 
'Swing, Time' (RKO) got okay 
$4(900, with first getting great $7,600. 

Paramount ' (Evergreen) (3,000; 
30-40)—' General Died at Dawn' 
(Par). Started big and keeping up to 
$7,000. Last week 'Anthony Adverse' 
(WB) fell off slightly in second week - 
to fair $4,100, with first week ter- 
rific $9,000. 

United Artists (Parker) (1,000; 30- 
40)— 'Gorgeous Hussy' (MG). Second 
week bouncing along to great $5,000. 
First week closed in the really big 
■money at $7,300. 



s 



VARIETY 



PICT 



SSES 



Wednesday, October 7, 1936 



Heat, World Series Airings Hurt Pitt. 
Grosses; 'Godfrey/ 5th Wk, $7, 




Pittsburgh, Oct. 6. 
(Best Exploitation: Penn) 
Only 'Great Ziegfeld* at Perm this 
Week managing to withstand com- 
, bination of Indian summer and World 
Series. Broadcasts of Yank-Giant 
games have been ' murdering mat 

• trade and return to abnormally 
warm weather after couple of chilly 
Weeks isn't helping matters any 
either. Despite length .of flicker and 

. lack of usual turnover, 'Ziegfeld' 
should pass $20,000 mark, which 
makes it practically a cinch for a h. 
o n "although that hadn't been deter- 
mined up to a late hour yesterday. 
(Monday).- • 
"Still pulling 'em in at Fulton is 
. *My Man Godfrey.' which will hit 
around $7,000 in fifth, and stays for 
sixth, getting .under way tomorrow 
(Wed). Elsewhere, however, things 
are pretty dulL Local pull of Dick 
Powell, together with publicity at- 
tending recent marriage to Joan 
Blondell, bolstering weakness of their 
: 'Stage Struck' at Stanley somewhat 
and may result in $8,000, only fair, 
while 'Seven Sinners' and 'Man Who 
. Lived Twice' come out of Alvin 
Thursday (8)' after only six days to 
around $4,100. 'Ladies in Love' opens 
day ahead of schedule.. 

Penn shrewdly sold 'Great Zieg- 
feld' oil fact that nicker hadn't been 
cut a foot for popular-price showing, 
. at same time capitalizing in ads raves 
for film when it road-showed here. 
' Estimates for This Week 
Alvin (Harris) (2,000; 25-J35-40)^. 
'Seven Sinners' (GB) and *Man Who 
.Lived Twice* (Col). Nothing for., 
marquee -to sell and six days will re- 
sult in no more than $4,100. Some 
help from lobby appearances by 
'Miss America' in afternoon, 'ladies 
. in. Love' (20th-Fox) opens Thurs- 
day <8>. day ahead of schedule for 

• run. Last week 'Craig's Wife' (Col), 
helped by Louis-Ettore ilght pic- 
ture, and okay ' in eight • days to 

'$7500 

Folton (Shea-Hyde) (1,750; 25-35- 
40)— 'My Man Godfrey' (U). No let- 
up in sight for this one as it goes on 
: and dn to set up .new records every 
day. Fifth week should bring in 
. . around $7,000. great, and keeps going 
into sixth and even -then no indica- 
tion of weakening. Passing previous 
run -record of five weeks set by 
'Count -of Monte Cristo' arid way 
ahead of this one in dough for same 
period already. 
: Penn (Loew's-UA) (3,300; 35-50)— 
•Great Ziegfeld' (MG).. A cinchior 
real dough under any set-up. Run 
ning time won't stop musical smash 
from rolling up better than $20,000, 
Which "should mean a.' second week, 
without any trouble. Last week 
•Dodsworth' (UA) finished strong 
after moderate start to 412,000. 

Stanley (WB) (3,600: 25-35-50)— 
^Stage Struck' (WB). WeaklC musi- 
cal has only Dick Powell's local pull, 
together with publicity attending ie r 
cent marriage .to Joan Blondell, to 
bolster it and doesn't stand much 
chance of bettering $8,000, ordinary. 
Last week 'General Died at Dawn' 
(Par) slightly better at just under 
$10,000. : - 

Warner (WB> (2.000; 25-40)— 
♦WaUUWl on Air* (RKO) and 'Grand 
Jury' (RKO). Mediocre- dual' will 

fet only mediocre gross. Maybe 
4,000 or perhaos a bit better. Last 
week 'Swing Time (RKO) swell at 
$7j0Q0 in six days after $20,000 -week 
at Stanley previously. 

'JANUARY/SHOW BO AT,' 
TMSCO' TOP SYDNEY 

Sydney, Sept 8. 
Vacation time has been kind- to 
; the managers , here "and brought 
plenty to- the b.b; 

'Captain January' (Fox) moves 
out after three splendid weeks, 
while 'San Francisco' (MG) and 
'Show Boftt* (U) still maintain a rec- 
. ord leveL 'Private Number* (Fox) 
got away to a great start with Robert 
Taylor in number one spot on femme 
bias. ^'Prisoner of Shark Island' 
(Fox) did nicely on opening and 
should get something. 

'It's Love Again' (GB) and 'Secret 
Agent*. (G-B) are giving the British 
, a great break. 'Whipsaw*-' (MG) is 
a surprise hit and likely to run four 
Weeks. 

Biz .generally has been good, with 
current lineup, including, 'Princess 
Comes Across' (Par) 'Early to Bed' 
(Par) 'Crash Donavan' (Uni), 'Fang 
and Claw' (RKO) Schmelrog-Louis 
Battle - <RKO), and 'Last Outlaw' 
(RKO). - 



I B'HAM RECOVERING 



Pokes 



Resting After Fair 
'Hussy' $7,000 



Spree 



Birmingham,' Oct. 6. 
(Best Exploitation: Alabama) 
State fair is over and now the 
pockketbooks have got to recover, be- 
fore picture business gets back to 
normal. Houses are in for a mod- 
erate week despite some good lay- 
outs. 

Alabama with 'Gorgeous. Hussy/ 
spent more than usual on advertising 
with increased newspaper space, 24 
sheets and other mediums for the 
exploitation rating this week. 

Estimates for Ibis Week' 
Alabama (Wilby-Kincey) (2,800; 
30-35-40)— 'Gorgeous Hussy* (MG). 
Around $7,000, moderate. Last week 
'My Man Godfrey' (U), $6,500, fair. 

Empire (Acme) (1,100; 25)— 'Went 
to College' (MG). Annual trek of 
College pictures begins with $2,700. 
moderate. Last week. '30 Hours' 
(20th), $2,400, fair. . 

Bits (WilbyrKincey) (1,600; 25-30) 
—! Walking on Air' (RKO). Not so 
good -at $2,300. ' Last week 'Two in 
Crowd' (U) also Weak $2,300. 

Strand (Wilby-Kincey) (800; 25)— 
'King of RoyaF Mounted.' Just an- 
other week at $1,400, poor. Last 
week 'Border Flight' (Par), $1,700, 
light 

devil; $11,500, 
no sissy in 




Melbourne, Sept 6. 
Oke biz here currently with 'The 
King Steps Out' (Col),. 'The Un- 
guraded Hour' (M-G), 'When Knights 
Were Bold' (AD), 'Secret Agent' 
(G-B), 'Till We, Meet Again' (Par), 
and The Lady Consents* IRKO) 
top*. 



National 1st Runs 



Cincinnati, Oct 6. . 
(Best Exploitation: Albee) 

Trade currently downtown is even- 
stepheri With last week, which is 
pleasing in view of present limited 
crop of sock product -and tough com- 
bination of - opposish from world 
series radioing, delightful .autumn 
weather r night college football games, 
political broadcasts by national, state 
and county office seekers* and. open- 
ing., of 33-day racing meet at River 
Downs, nee Coney Island, with 40c. 
gate. 

'Dodsworth' is the topper at $15,000 
for Albee. 'Devil. Is a .Sissy,' at the 
Palace, is lining up. -$11,500. Keith's 
is ' having a' big "week with 'Old 
Hutch,' for $7,000. Only other hew 
release, 'Lady Be- Careful/ at the 
Lyric, is a. no"dicer, for $3,500, 

'Anthony Adverse*, is concluding 
three- weeks at Shubert With $5,000 
and 'Ramona' is second-weeking at 
Capitol for $5,000. Smallie Grand 
has 'Swing .Time' for' fourth down- 
town week at $3,000. 

'Dodsworth' was treated to best 
campaign locally in some time. 
Michael Kavanaugh, UA exploiteer, 
and RKO blurbera contacted Jenny's 
shop for press ads and- window .dis- 
plays' linking~pic with women's ap-f 
parel fashions. Amusement pages 
dominated by 'Dodsworth' art and 
rave reviews. 

Estimates for This Week 

Albee (RKO) (3.300; 35-42)— 
'Dodsworth* (UA). Strong $15,000. 
Last week 'Ramona' (Fox), $13,000, 
good. 

Capitol <RKO) (2,000; 35-42)— 'Ra- 
mona' (Fox) (2d .run), at $5,000, 
satisfactory. Last week 'Craig's 
Wife* (Col) perked up in last half to 
$6,000, dandy. 

Family (RKO) (1,000; 15-25)— 'Nero 
Wolfe* (Col) with 'Ace Drummond'. 
serial (U) in first half, and 'I'd Give 
My Life' (Par) last half. At 32,400, 
big. Last week 'Straight from Shoul- 
der' (Par) and "Postal Inspector' (U),' 
split $2,500. 

Grand (RKO) (1,200; 25-40)— 
'Swing Time* (RKO) returned for 
fourth downtown week and $3,000, 
nice: Last week 'Godfrey' (U) (3d 
week), $4,000. swell. 

Keith's (Llbson) v(l,500; 30-40)— 
'Old Hutch' (MG). Aiming at *7.fl00, 
great Last week 'Wives Never 
Know' (Par). $6,000. dandy. 

Lyric (RKO) (1,400; 35-42)— "Lady 
Be Careful' (MG). A little careless 
at $3,500. Last week 'Pepper' (Fox), 
$5,500, nifty. 

Palace (RKO) (2,600; 35-42)— 
'Devil is Sissy' (MG). All right for 
$11,500. Last week 'General Died' 
(Par). $8,000. sorry. 

Shubert (RKO) (2.200; 40-60)— 
'Anthony Adverse' (WB) (3d week). 
Good $5,000. Last week. $7,500. 

Strand (Ind) (1.300: 15-25)— 
'Earthworm Tractors' (WB). 'Naughty 
Marietta' (MG). 'Suzy' (MG), di- 
vided. Okay, $1,800. Last week 
'Poor Little Rich Girt*. (20th), 'Pri- 
vate Number' (20th) and 'Country 
Beyond* (20th), $1,600. 



UNIVERSAL 
"Two In a Crowd,' Strand, 
Hartford, 8; Warner, Milwau- 
kee, 9; Garrick, Duluth, 14; 
Stanley, J. C, 16; Cap, Miami, 
16; Imperial, Charlotte, 19; Cap, 
Davenport 20; Cap, Oklahoma 
City, 22; Orph, Des Moines, 23; 
Fox, Joplin, Nov, 14; Hayhawk,- 
Topeka, 19. 

' 'My Man Godfrey/ Lyceum, 
Duluth, 9; Fox, Atlanta, 9; Cap, • 
Winnipeg, 9; Ear, Joplin, 9; Maj, . 
Dallas, 10; Strand, Lansing, 11; 
Hipp, Cleve, 23; Strand, Allen- 
town, 23. . 

'Magnificent - Brute/ Lincoln, 
Miami, 10; Allen, Cleve, 10; 
H'wood, Ft Worth, 13; Egyp- 
tian, Ogden, 14; -Keith's, Balto, 
15; Imperial, . Charlotte, 15; 
Crown, Mobile, 18; Lansing, 
Lansing, 18; Orph, Wichita, 21, 
PARAMOUNT 

'Valiant Is the Word for Car- 
rie/ Chi, Chi, 23; Denham, Den" 
ver, 30; MinnpMpls, 30; New- 
man, K. C, 30. 

'Lady Be Careful/ Orph, Seat- 
tle, 9; Missouri, St L., 16; 
Oriental, Cl\j, 30. 

/Bit Broadcast of 1937/ Par, 
Toledo, 9; Mich, Det 9; Mainst 
K. C, 9; Minn, Mpls, 9; Met 
Bos, 9; Stanley, Pittsb'g'h, 16; 
Denham, Denver, 16 and 23; Fox, 
Atlanta, -16; Maj, Dallas,. 17; Im- 
perial, Asheville, 18; Buff, Buff, 
23. 

'Wives Never. Know/ Uptown, . 
K. C, 9; State, P'tland, ; 15; 
Orph, St L., 16{ Tudor y N.O., 17. 

'Murder With Pictures/ Lyric, 
Mpls, 16; Warfield, S. F, 16; Met 
• Wash, 16. 

METRO ~ 
"Piccadilly Jim/ Warwick, K. 
C, 8; New Arion, Mpls; 20; 
Strand, Des M, Nov. 6. 
UNITED ARTISTS 
'Dodsworth/ Strand,. Scran- 
ton, 9; Valentine, Toledo, 9; 
Aldine, Wilmington, 9; UA; SJ\, 
8. 

'Gay Desperado/ Music H., 
N. Y„ 8; New, Balto, 9; Lib, 
Seattle, 16; Albee, PrOv., 23. 

%ast of - the Mohicans/ 
Warner, Bos., 8; Regent Ot- 
tawa, 9; State, .Mpls., 9; B'way, 
P'tland, 10; Princess, Sioux C, 
10; Shea's, Erie,' 11; Carolina, 
Charl'te, 22; Queen, Galveston, 
24. 



HEART'-'TENSION' LEAD 
OMAHA DUALS, $7,800 



Omaha, Oct 6. 

•'(Best Exploitation: Orpheum) 

Continued value at all houses 
makes for a satisfactory Week. Or- 
pheum is, the likely leader with the 
new Kay Francis flicker and its at- 
tendant . Hearst-Cosmo backing. 
Omaha will follow closely with 
'Girls' Dormitory'" and Brandeis is 
coming through with a more than 
steady return on 'Craig's Wife.' All 
houses double billing, but it's the 
first line that counts. 

A new outside competitive factor 
enters the picture with the opening 
in the downtown sector of the new 
Music Box ballroom. - First time" in 
several years" that "a classy dance hall 
has located- downtown and getting 
heavy play from the start. Running 
six nights per week puts it hi a 
position to struggle against films. No 
heavy drag away from pictures, but 
constant pecking. 

Exploitation drawing some unusual 
attention to the theatres, but edge to 
the Orpheum, utilizing all the ad- 
vantages of co-operation with the 
Hearst Bee News. 

Estimates for This Week 1 

Brandeis (Singer-RKO) (1,250; 25- 
35-40)-^Craig> Wife* (Col) and 'Met 
in Taxi' (Col), dual. Combo of 
comedy and drama nicely paced for 
$4,900. Last week 'Adventure in 
Manhattan' (Col) and 'Down the 
Stretch* (FN), dual, $4,500, not bad. 

Omaha (Blank) (2,100; 25-40)— 
'Girls' Dormitory' (20th) and "White 
Fang' (20th), dual. Holding up well 
for $7,700. Last week 'Mohicans! 
(UA) and '36 Hours' (20th), nice, 
$7,200. 

Orpheum (Blank) .(2,976; 25-40)-^ 
'Your Heart' (WB) and 'High Ten- 
sion' <20th). Kay Francis has the 
heavy ad and -exploitation co-opera- 
tion of the Bee News; $7;800. Last 
week 'Godfrey* <U) and 'Dr. Forbes* 
(20th), $9,000, very strong. 

Rex Lease's Jam 



Los Angeles, Oct, 6. 
Rex Lease, cowboy actor, received 
a five-day suspended jail ' sentence 
.last week in night court on a drunk 
charge, 

Police asserted that the actor at- 
tempted to . commit suicide at the 
home, of Lawrence Abbott slashing 
his wrist with a razor bladta* - 



Cooper Draw Gets 'GeneraT SlljflflO in 
Myv'ScotcJi my mm Fox 



DodsworiV $10,300, 
Tops in New Haven 

New Haven, Oct 6. - 
(Best Exploitation: Poll) 

Business pretty even around town 
this week. 'Swing Time' holding 
up .fair on. second week. 'Dpds-' 
worth' a mild starter, hut building 
nicely. 

Poli 'campaign oh "Dodsworth' went 
heavy on the literary angle. Rental 
library book covers carried full-page 
ad; hook store windows displayed a 
variety of Lewis'' works; Sunday 
feature stories landed literary pake, 
etc. Campaign also included radio 
plugs and special editorial page com- 
ment ' 

Estimates for This Week 

College (Loew) (1,565; . 35-50)— 
'Swing Time' (RKO (2d Wfc.). 
Should catch satisfactory $3,500. 
Last week 'Gorgeous Hussy* (MG) 
(2d wk.) drew pleasing $3,700. - ' 

Paramount (M&P) (2,348; 35-50) 
'Wedding Present' (Par) and 'High 
Tension' (20th). Oke $6,300 in 
sight Last week 'Wives Never 
Know* (Par 7 and 'Straight from 
Shoulder' (Par) landed typical Rug- 
gles-Boland $5,500; fair enough. 

Poll (Loew) (3,040; 35-50)— 'Dods- 
worth* (UA) and 'Sworn Enemy' 
(MG). Paced at nice $10,300. Last 
week 'Swing Time' (RKO) topped 
town with nifty $12,500. 

Soger Sherman. (WB) (2.200: 35- 
50)— 'Give Me Your Heart* (WB) 
and "East Meets West* (GB). Big 
opening, .holding up for okay $6,500. 
Last week "Mohicans' (UA) and. 
'Walking on Air* (RKO) close to 
same figure. 

'SWING' TORRID 

IN BUFFALO, 

$20,000 



Buffalo, Oct 6. 

(Best Exploitation: Great Lakes) 

'Swing Time' is setting the pace for' 
all attractions in Buffalo this week. 
Getting under way' with a terrific 
start it looks as though the picture 
will do capacity and its figure for 
the opening week will top anything 
the house has had all season. Tak- 
ings elsewhere are quiet 

Exploitation honors ' go to the 
.Lakes, where the Astaire-Rogers fea- 
ture-got a fine campaign. • Packard, 
-radio and music angles especially 
stressed. Packard bannered and pa- 
raded their cars, filled dealers' win- 
dows,, distributed heralds and used 
plenty, of newspaper space. 

Estimates for This Week 

Buffalo (Shea) (3,600; 30-40-50)— 
'Give Me Your Heart' (WB). Not 
.showing much strength. and lucky to 
get $11,000. Last week 'Dodsworth' 
(UA). $I2;000. fair. 

Century (Shea) (3.400; 25-35)— 
'Jailbreak' (WB) and 'Lady Be Care- 
ful' (Par). Regular dual program 
for 'probably - around $7,000. Last 
week 'Taxi' (WB) and 'Last Outlaw' 
. (RKO ); Cagney ' reissue -knocking 
them -dizzy at $8,960. 

Great Lakes (Shea) (3.400; 30-50) 
— 'Swing Time' (RKO). Peak busi- 
ness, probably $20,000. Last week 
'Last of Mohicans' (UA), stronger 
than expected, $9,800. 

Hipp (Shea) (2.400: 25-40)— 'Walk- 
ing -on Air' (RKO) and 'Second 
Wife' <RKO). This eard will mark 
time to . probably around -$6.-000. 
Last week 'Anthony Adverse' (WB), 
second week in town; not so good, 
$6,700. 

Lafayette (Ind) (3,400; 25-35)— 
'Adventure in Manhattan' (Col) and 
Trapped by Television' (Col). About 
average for the new higher levels, 
-which the house has struck the last 
few months; $7,500. Last week 'My 
Man Godfrey* (U), nice, second stan- 
za for this. Over $9,000. 



FILM PLANE CRACKOP 
HttS 4 OUTSIDE CHI 



Chicago, Oct. 6. 

Three men and a woman, of whom 
three were employees of. the local 
Wilding Picture Productions, were 
killed in an aeroplane crash last 
week while attempting to photo- 
graph. .. the" Burlington railroad's 
streamlined Zephyr train, Plane was. 
flying at about 70 feet when it dove 
into the ground. 

Those killed were Wilma Shuesler, 
script writer; Ralph Bjddy, camera- 
man, newsreel photog and freelance 
producer; Howard Adams, director, 
former actor and radio announcer; 
Oscar Habold, pilot. 



Philadelphia, Oct. 6. 
. (Best Exploitation: Boyd) ' 

Flock of new films downtown are 
providing a little extra activity this 
week, although a couple -of the late 
arrivals -don't look any too strong. 

Gary Cooper's following plus some 
good notices is giving 'General Died 
at Dawn' a good if not a -sensational 
$18,000 week at the Stanley, and it's 
almost certain' to hold for a sec- 
ond. . 'Big Broadcast' underlined. 
'Mary of Scotland' was figured for 
a holdover, at the Fox, but $17,000 is 
no dice and house starts 'Libelled 
Lady 1 Friday (9). 

Flock of new ones this week meant 
a division of exploitation attention, 
but 'My Man Godfrey' at the Boyd 
got the benefit of a good campaign, 
including tie-ups with news-dealers 
and book-stores. . 

Estimates for Thhi Week 

Aldine (1,300; 40-^3-65)— Dods- 
worth' (UA) (2d week). Still going 
strong with $12,000 this week and a 
third almost certain. Last week's 
record-breaking $19,000- led the town. 

Arcadia (600; 25-40-50) — 'Soil 
Comes Home' (Par). First run un- 
usual -for house. Mild $2,000. Last 
week, "Yours for Asking' (Par) (2d 
run), weak, $1,700. . . 

Boyd (2,400; 40-55)— *My Man God- 
frey' (U). Notices not quite as good 
here as some spots; $14,500 and h. o. 
uncertain. Last week, . 'Ramona' 
(20th) disappointed with $13,000. 
. Earle (2,tXH): 25-40-55)— 'Devil Is 
Sissy* - (MG). First week of non'-vaude 
policy resulting from deadlock with 
musicians' union. Back to seven-day 
week for mild $13,000 .seen. Last 
week "Lady Be Careful* (Par) and 
vaude with -Benny Meroff and Miss 
America helped, nice $15,500 on six- 

Fox '(3,000; 40-55-6B)— 'Mary of 
Scotland' (RKO). By no means what 
was expected and -gets only a week; 
$17,000 is- some over house average. 
Last week. 'Stage Struck' (WB) and 
Louis-Ettore fight pix, latter helping, 
only $14,006*, disappointing. 

Karlton (1,000: -25-35-40)— 'Road to 
Glory' (20th) (2d run). About $2,800, 
fair. Last week 'Swing Time' (RKO). 
(2d week of 2d run), nice, $3,100. 

Keith's (2,000; 30-40-50)— 'Great 
Ziegfeld' (MG) (2d run). Good 
$3,200. Last week *Your Heart' (WB) 
(2d run), ordinary, $2,000. 

Stanley (3.700; 40-55)— 'General 
Died' (Par).. Good $18,000 and second 
week possible. Last week 'Great 
Ziegfeld' (MG) got $17,500, excellent 
in eight-day second week Of 'first, 
local grind -showing. ' 

Stanton (1,700; 30-40-50)— 'Seven 
Sinners' (G-B). Fairish at $4,800. 
Last week 'Don't Turn 'Em Loose' 
(RKO) just managed to break $5,000. 



'DODSWORTH' ON DUAL 
$16,000 IN PROVIDENCE 



Providence, Oct. 6. 
(Best Exploitation: Loew's) 

While new programs are generally 
attractive, there's one house in town 
running away with the honors. That 
spot is Loew's, where . there's • a 
double bill >on tap. headed by 'Dods- 
worth.' Going' is plenty fcig; and tak- 
ings are going to" $16;000, : 

LOew's ran -away with campaign 
honors, this being largely ^Jue to- co- 
ordinated- efforts of Howard Burk- 
hardt, manager, and Max Abramson, 
U. A. p. a. The Campaign was a telling 
one, and featured several stunts not 
often seen in these parts. For one 
thing tie-up was made with English, 
dramatic and literature depart- 
ment* of Brown University oh 'Dods- 
worth,' professors being very help- 
ful by special -lectures , in which pic 
was mentioned. Another swell stunt 
concentrated on clergy who in Ave 
widely separated .cases used 'Dods- 
worth* as'iext for sermons, winding 
up with a plea to see firm. 

Estimates for This Week 

Albee (2,200; 15-25-40)— 'My Man 
Godfrey* (U) (2d week). House 
staggering films to get a break on 
product This stanza $5,500, not bad. 
First week $8,000. 

Fay's (2,000; 15-25-40)— 'Isle of 
Fury' (WB) and vaude. Pace still 
holding Up; this Week $6,500, oke. 
Last week 'State Fair' (20th), re- 
issue, $5,809, not bad. 

Loew's State (3,200; 15-25-40)— 
.'Dodsworth' (UA) and They Met in 
Taxi' (Col), dual. N Great $16,000. 
Last week 'Ziegfeld* (MG) had ad- 
vantage' of tilted prices, but slipped 
on a holdover to $10,000, so-so. . 

Majestic (Fay) (2,200; 15-25-40)— 
'Ramona* *(20th) and 'Postal Inspec- 
tor* (WB). Winning second honors 
With $8,000. Last week 'Sing, Baby* 
(20th) and 'Jeeves' (20th) so-so at 
$6,000. 

Strand (Indie) (2,200; 15-25-40)— 
'Wives Never Know* (Par) and 
'Lady Be Careful' (Par), dual. Once 
again Thursday opening proves 
distinct advantage, to house,, first day 
being capacity -and a leader to 
$7,500. Last week 'General Died* 
(Par.) not so good And not so bad at 
»T,0ua-: 



Wednesday, October 7, 1936 



PICT 



E C 



SSES 



VARIETY 



Dick Merrill, Sarah Churchill No 
Draws in Boston; 'Godfrey' $25,000 



Boston, Oct. 6. 
(Best Exploitation: jrlet) 
Twa freak fltage attractions, me- 
dium film fare generally, a* 1 * a.hoJLd- 
Xyer sum up . the background of 
knotty biz here this week* 
T)ick Merrill Oh. the Met stage, do- 
ing a talking bnV with toe Al Dona- 
hue band ahow, and 4 Wives Never 
Know' on the- screen, are taking a 
nose dive at the b.o. Sarah Church- 
11L linked by the press in an alleged 
romance- with Vic Oliver, is appear- 
ing briefly in. a stage show with 
Oliver at the Keith Boston, with 
^Star for a Night' pn screen, ijfiss 
Churchill apparently means nothing 
on the draw endY ^ 

Met had one. of the worst week- 
ends in history and will do well to 
hit $12,000, contrasting with a smash 
lake last week of $37,700, Biz at the 
Boston will also suffer contrast from 
last week at IMdQO. . ■ 

Town's leader is "My Man Godfrey' 
at the Memorial where a good $25,- 
000 intake for eight days guarantees 
a holdover for at least one more 
stanza. 'Zieggy* at the Orph and 
State easily won a h.o. and second 
week will attract a total of about 
$30,000, excellent. 

Scollay* in proportion, is one of 
the healthiest stands; with two sec- 
tod runs,. 'Stage Struck* and 'China 
Clipper,' dual, pointing to $8,500. 
' Gene Fox and the exploit staff of 
the Met chose Dick, Merrill as the 
logical object of most of their extra- 
splurge work this week. Tossing 
1,000 ping peng^ balls, promoted from 
a game manufacturer, out a Tre- 
jnont Street window, each pellet 
tarrying plug for the Merrill p..a. 
was perhaps the most spectacular 
gag pulled here in many weeks. A 
local air circus flying over the city, 
a press party aborad a transport 
plane,- tie-up with a department 
store's junior aviation league, a 
testimonial dinner by the National 
Aviators' Association, and a good 
batch of interviews and spacial 
'newspaper stuff ■ were other high 
Spots of the campaign. Al Donahue, 
band leader, also playing the Met. 
was showered with local boy' stuff 
In the press, 

• . Estimates This Week 

Boston (RKO) (3.000; 35-50-65)— 
'Star lor Tonight' (Fox) and stage 
Show with Joan Marsh, Sarah 
Churchill and Vic Oliver. Just 
medium $20,000. Last -week 'Don't 
Turn 'Em Loose' (RKO) and 'Glori- 
fied Follies' unit, very pleasing, 
$27,100. 

Colonial (Loew) (1,600; 55-83- 
|1.10-$1.65 — 'Borneo' (MG) (5th 
week) finished up roadshow here 
•with pale $3,000. 

■ , Fenway (M&P) (1,600; 25-35-40 
B0>— r'Midsiunmer Dream' (WB) (2d 
run), and 'Son Comes Back' (Par) 
. (1st run), dual. Aro und $5,000, fair. 
-'China Clipper' (WB) and "Love Be- 
gins' (WB), double, oke $6,500 last 
week 

' Keith Memorial (RKO) (2,000: 25- 
|5.50 )— 'Godfrey' (U). Drawing 
iocko night trade with matinees 
relatively light Good $25,000 for 
eight days and certain of one more 
.week. 'Swing Tlnie* (RKO) (4th 

Seek) had satisfactory , finale at 
i.QOjP, „.. 
«,i M ?^ oJ ^ ^&P) (4,200; 35-50^ 
65)— 'Wives^m Know' (Par) and 
?e show topjied by Dick Merrill 
, I Al' Donahue band. Below sum- 
aer .level kt $l&fi00 or worse. Last 
jreek big $37,700 for *Your Heart' 
(WB) with John Boles and Fred Al- 
len ams on stage. 
■ Orpheum (Loew) (3,000: 35-40-55 
^5)— *G«af Ziegfeld* (MG) (2d 
ealthyi .with tilted prices, 
jS.and late breaks; $17, 

_ ^ feek very good, $21.0QO. 

*ar»m6» nf (M&P) (1,800; 25-35- 
fl)— 'Dream* (WB) (2d run) and 
yon Comes, Home* (Par) (1st run), 
dual. Shakespeare's first pop price 
. run, in ttas'.-fown benefited by no 
school on opening day (1) and from 
Overflow of ' Memorial, next door, 
Over weekend, getting $9,000, over 
average. Last week «Clipper* (WB) 
tad 'Love Begins* (WB), dual, very 
good, $10,000. 

Scpllay (M&P) (2,700; 25-35-40-50) 
£-*China Clipper' (WB) and 'Stage 
Struck' (WB), both 2d run. Ringing 
the bell for very good $8,500. Last 
*eek gobd $7,500 on "'General Died' 
(Par) (3d run) and 'Three Married 
Men' (Par) (2d run), dual. 
^State (Loew) (3^00; 35-40-55-65)— 
•ZieRfeld' (MG) (2d week), okay 
|13,000. First week very good, $J7,- 




Acad Tech Execs 



Hollywood, Oct. 6. 
New executive committee which 
Will govern Technicians' branch of 
the Academy of Motion Picture Arts 
and Sciences this year includes John 
Arnold, Farciot Edouart, Fred Gage, 
Nathan Levinson, Wesley G. Miller, 
Van Nest Polglase and Ray Wilkin- 
son. 

Arnold, Levinson and Polglase 'will 
represent the branch on the new 
Acad board of governors. ,• 



LINCOLN'S EDDIE ALPERSON 

Home Town Boy's In His Steps' 
Gets $1,30« in 'World Premiere' 

Lincoln, Oct. 6, 
(Best Exploitation: Varsity) 

Money is again turning out for the 
Stuart in favor of 'My Man Godfrey.' 
There's a lot of flutter money around, 
too, on this weekend which is the 
opening football game of the season 
with Nebraska scrapping with Iowa 
State. Crowd of 27,000 came to town 
H SZS l4, 'Godfrey* will get close to 
$4,000. 

Most of the bally is -with 'In His 
Steps, sold as a 'world premiere' and 
tied up with the early Nebraska 
career of Ed Alperson in the show 
biz. It s playing the Varsity and not 
going bad at $1,300. 

Estimates for This Week 
^Liberty (LTC) (1,200; 10-15)— 
Three Mesquiteers' (Rep) plus 'Love, 
Honor' (U), split, with dual 'King of 
the Royal Mounted' (20th) plus 
'Spirit of Notre Dame' (U). Four- 
some collecting $950, not bad. Last 
week Trailin' West' (WB) plus 'Miss- 
ing Persons' (WB), split with 'Down 
the Stretch' (WB) and 'Kennel Mur- 
der Case* (WB), $900, oke. 

Lincoln (LTC) (1,600; 10-20-25)— 
'Girls' Dorm.' (20th), also holding 
over Jay Clarke for second week. 
Femmes have been going for mental- 
ist. Fine week at $2,900. Last week 
'Ramona' (20th) and Clarke carved 
out. $2,800, very nice. 

Orpbenm (LTC) (1,350; 10-20-25- 
40)— 'Girl on Front Page' (U) and 
Tarisian Follies' unit, split with 
dual 'Pepper* (20th) plus 'Sitting on 
the Moon F (Rep). Football weekend 
helping- this house to $2,700, nice. 
Last week 'Back to Nature' (20th) 
plus 'Shuffle Along' unit 'Iron Man' 
(U) and 'Doughnuts and Society' 
(Mas) with Bowes ams. (one day), 
went fine at $3,300. 

Stuart (LTC) (1,900; 10-25-40)— 
'Godfrey' (U). Pic is in front of the 
field at $4,000. Last week. 'Gorgeous 
Hussy' (MG) got out .on eight days 
with $4,000, very good take. 

Varsity (Westland) (1,100; 10-20- 
25)— 'In His Steps' (GN). Picture is 
first from the GN and being given its 
world premiere in this town, cele- 
brating the Nebraska origination of 
Eddie Alperson, head of the com- 
pany. Going very well at $1,300. 
Last week 'Craig's Wife' (Col) very 
potent at $1,700. 

zieggy; $7,oci 

2D DENVER WK. 



Denver, Oct. 9. 
(Best Exploitation! Denbam) 

"Stage Struck' is going strong at 
the Denver and goes to the Aladdin 
for second week. 'Great Ziegfeld' is 
sailing along nicely in second week 
at the Orpheum and doing about 50% 
of opening week's gross. 'Ramona,' 
at the Aladdin for a second week, is 
doing nicely. 

Rain last night (Monday) dented 
takes slightly. 

Best exploitation goes to the Den- 
ham, with its $3,000 offered in two 
drawings, while the Huffman the- 
atres have a mere $900. a Ford and 
an all-expense round trip to Chicago 
to offer. 

Estimates for This Week 

Aladdin (Huffman) (1,500; 25-40- 
50)— 'Ramona' (20th). Following a 
week at the Denver, doing okay $4,- 
000 here. Last week 'Nine Days a 
Queen' (GB) had a nice week, $3,500. 

Broadway (Huffman) (1,500; 25-40) 
— Star for a Night' (20th). Poor at 
$1,500. Last week 'Girls' Dormitory' 
(20th), following a week at the Den- 
ver, played to nice $3,000. 

Center (Allan) (1,500; 20-25)— 
'Secret Agent' (GB) and 'Sitting on 
the Moon' (Rep), and stage show. 
U. S. G. at $2,000. Last week 'Final 
Hour' (Col) and 'Go Get 'Em, Haines' 
(Col) r and stage show» fairish at 
$2,250. 

Denham (Cockrill) (1,500; 25-35- 
50)— 'Wives Never Know' (Par) and 
stage show. Smacker at $8,500. Last 
week 'General Died at Dawn' (Par), 
on a two-day holdover, and 'Murder 
With Pictures' (Par), tossed in for 
five days to finish the week, $4,000, 
poor. 

Denver (Huffman) (2,500; 25-35-50) 
—'Stage Struck' (FN) and stage 
band. Just nice at $8,000. Last week 
'Ramona,' big $11,000 and earned a 
second week at the Aladdin. 

Orpheum 1RKO) (2,600: 30-40-55) 
—'Great Ziegfeld' (MG) (2d week). 
About half last week's figure at $7,- 
000. Last week, same pic got ter- 
rific $14,000. breaking house record. 

Paramount (Huffman) (2,000: 25- 
40)— 'Public Enemy's Wife' (WB) and 
'Love Begins at 20' (FN).. Good $3,- 
500. Last week 'Two in a Crowd' 
(U) and 'Postal Inspector' (U), neat 
$3,250. 



1st Runs on Broadway 

(Subject to Change) 

Week •( Oct 9 „ 
Astor— 'Romeo and Juliet* 
(MG) (8th wk). 

Capitol— 'Great Ziegfeld' (MG) 
(4th wk). 

Criterion — 'Ramona' (20th) 
(6). 

Music Hall— 'Gay Desperado' 
(UA) (8). 

Paramount — *Valiant Word for 
Carrie' (Par) (7). 

Bialto — 'Lady Be Careful' 
(Par). 

Btvoll— *Dodsworth' (UA) (3d 
wk). 

Boxy— 'Dimples' (20th). 

Strand — 'Midsummer Night's 
Dream' (WB) (2d wk). 

Week of Oet 16 

Astor— 'Romeo and Juliet' 
(MG) (9th wk), 

Capitol— 'Devil Is a Sissy' 
(MG). 

Criterion— "Ramona' (20th) 
(2d wk). 

Paramount — 'Valiant Word 
for Carrie' (Par) (2d wk). 

Bialto— "Longest Night* (MG). 

Bivoll — 'Dodsworth' (UA) 
(4th wk). 

Boxy— 'Dimples' (20th) (2d 
wk). 

Strand— 'Cain and Mabel' (17). 



'DREAMS' $6,000 
ONLY OKE IN 
FRISCO 



San Francisco, Oct. 6. 
(Best Exploitation: Fox) 
"Midsummer Night's Dream' at pop 
prices (40c top) at the St. Francis, 
after three weeks at $1.50 at' the 
Geary almost a year ago, is only oke 
at $6,000. Very little was done in 
the way of ballyhoo, although some 
trade was drummed up during the 
previous week by a trailer. 

St. Francis, which usually goes in 
for long runs, will keep 'Dream' only 
one week if trade continues as is. 

Paramount and Fox are seeing 
bigger crowds this week with 'Gor- 
geous Hussy* at the former and 
'Dimples' at the Fox. Shirley Temple 
is pulling them in at the Fox which 
should do its best biz since F-WC 
took over operation of the Fox sev- 
eral weeks ago. Chain went to town 
in exploiting Temple picture. Tie- 
up included window displays in de- 
partment, radio and shoe stores; dis- 
tribution of 50,000 pieces of Black 
Jack gum at schools and play- 
grounds, card attached to which said 
that Shirley and Black Jack gum are 
too good to miss,' and several radio 
broadcasts. 

Estimates for This Week 

Embassy (RKO-Cohen) (1,512; 30- 
35-40)— 'Swing Time' (RKO) (2d 
run). Moved here after three weeks 
at Gate. . Fair. $3,800. Last week 
'Cavalcade' (Fox) and 'Renegades' 
(Fox), fair, $3,000. 

Fax (F-WC) (5,000;. 30-35-40)— 
'Dimples' (20th) and 'Velvet Claws' 
(WB). Strong at $21,000. Last -week 
'Ramona' (20th) and 'Hollywood 
Blvd.* (Par), $16,500, n.s.g. 

Geary (Lurie-Pincus) (1,200; 50-75- 
$1-$1.50)— 'Romeo' (MGM) (5th wk.).. 
Shakespeare crowd getting wind of 
closing date and upping. take to 
$7,000. Last week (4th) slipped badly 
to below $6,000, 

Golden Gate (RKO) (2,850; 30-35- 
40)— 'Don't Turn *Em Loose' (RKO) 
and stage show. Back to normal 
prices. Average $16,000. ' Last week 
(3d) 'Swing Time* (RKO), good 
$11,500. 

Orpheam (F-M) (2,440; 30-35-40) - 
•Godfrey* (U) and 'Yellowstone' (4th 
week). Big $7,600. Last week swell 
$10,000. 

Paramount (F-WC) (2,740; 30-35- 
40)— 'Gorgeous Hussy' (MGM) and 
'Three Married Men' (Par). Big $22,- 
000. Last week (2d) 'Piccadilly Jim' 
(MGM) and 'Pepper' (20th) n.s.g. at 
$9 000 

St. Francis (F-WC) (1,470; 30-35- 
40) — 'Midsummer Night's Dream' 
(WB). Okay at $6,000, Last week 
(2d) 'Your Heart' and 'Wives Never 
Know' (Par) very good $6,500. 

United Artists (UA-Cohen) (1,200; 
25-40)— 'Mohicans' (UA) (2d week). 
Out of place in this house. Being 
yanked after bad second week at 
$4,000. First v/eek $7,000, n.s.g. 

Warfield (F-WC) (2,680; 35-40)— 
'Old Hutch' (MGM) and 'Nine Days' 
(G-B) (2d week). Fair $9,000. Last 
week 'Old Hutch' (MGM) and 'Nine 
Days' (G-B), okay at $14,500. 



Mary Astor Helping 'Dodsy' to Top 
L A. Trade; 'Romeo' Slew at $13,500, 
Swing' Holdover $21,500; Par Anemic 



More Grosses 



Additional box-office gross 
stories will be found on page 
Z5 of this iBsar. 



Los Angeles, Oct. 6. 
(Best Exploitation: Cartkay Circle) 

Currently the b.o. lament is be- 
tween tourists seasons and beginning 
of. the football sessions. Both points 
are quite important as coin is miss- 
ing from theatres when these two 
enemies turn up annually. 

Best showing of current week for 
trade are the two Warner houses, 
Downtown and Hollywood, having 
'Dodsworth' heading double bill. Biz 
started off exceedingly well with 
houses doing best they have in long 
time. Cast names and the Goldwyn 
extra coin on plugs helped this at- 
traction to great extent. 

Disappointing was the start of 
'Romeo and Juliet' at Carthay Circle. 
Pic was given smash prelim cam- 
paign for $5.50 top opening. Crowds 
were big, so were raves, in dailies 
but biz foE initial week is lowest 
house has done since starting its 
two-a-day policy. Paramount, with 
one^of those so-so screen bills, is de- 
pending more on Jimmy Starr and 
his guest artists on stage for its 
trade than the two pics, 'Adventure 
in Manhattan' and 'Wives Never 
Know.' 

Chinese and State, with 'Piccadilly 
Jim' and 'Star for a Night' dual com- 
bine, are doing fair while the Pan- 
tages and RKO -are more than hold- 
ing their own with second week of 
'Swing Time' and 'Second Wife.' 
Latter pic really hurting trade as it 
is conceded weakest pic houses have 
had this season. 'East Meets West,' 
a George Arliss importation, is none 
too strong at the Four Star. 

Metro put everything it had in ex- 
ploiting the week's highlight, 'Romeo 
and Juliet.' Made tieuos with class 
stores for show of R&J costumes 
besides having store mention at bot- 
tom of monthly statements fact pic 
was opening and where. Had ten 
radio stations spread ether routine 
on pic which covered entire south- 
ern California. Framed, telephone 
chain with omen clubs doing stunt 
asking ten to phone to ten who 
would keep up chain which helped 
everywhere but at b.o. for initial 
week. Tied in with junior colleges 
and schools, used heavy billboard 
and daily newspaper ad space. Out- 
lay for initial week on exploiting, 
including that for premiere, Was 
around $15,000, with work on it cov- 
ering around six weeks. 

Estimates for This Week 
Carthay Circle (Fox) (1,518; 55' 
83-$1.10-$1.65) — 'Romeo* (MG). 
Drew in bit shy of $5,000 for open- 
ing nite with $5.50 top. Second day 
trade rather lame and initial week 
though good not considered terrific 
in hitting around $13,500. 

Chinese (Grauman) (2,028; 30-40- 
55)— 'Piccadilly Jim' (MG) and 'Star 
for Night' (20th), dual. Top bracket 
pic is one drawing trade which will 
be oke though not big at around 
$9,000. Last week 'Ramona' (20th) 
and 'Longest Night' (MG) dual. 
Little better than figured but not up 
to advance expectations with a fair 
$8 700 

Downtown (WB) (1,800; 25-35-40) 
—'Dodsworth' (UA) and 'Velvet 
Claws* (FN), dual. With the Astor- 
Chatterton-Huston names topping 
and plenty plug coin spent, this top 
bracket pic will hit a swell $10,500. 
Holds over. Last week "Your Heart' 
(WB) and 'Bulldog Edition* (Rep) 
dual. Went kind of blooey over 
week end and wound up nine-day 
jaunt with around $10,500, rather 
tepid. 

Four Star (Fox) (900; 30-40-55)— 
'East Meefs West' (G-B). This 
British-made Arliss attracting little 
if any attention and will be lucky 
for first stanza to hit $3,000. Last 
week, second and final, Thunder* 
(GB). • For five-day holdover, was 
very sad at less than $1,000. 

Hollywood (WB) (2,756; 25-35-40- 
55)— Dodsworth' (UA) and »Velvet 
Claws' (FN) dual. Off to very good 
start and looks as though $11,500 
is a cinch for the stanza. Holding 
second week. Last week, 'Your 
Heart' (WB) and 'Bulldog Edition' 
(Rep), Not a howling hit by any' 
means for nine-day sojourn which 
totalled $9,300. 

Orpbenm (Bdwy.) (2,280; 25-30-35- 
40)— 'Racing Blood' (Coiin) " and 
'Walking on Air' (RKO), dual, and 
vaude. On stage Stepin Fetchit is 
doing the trick in draw and though 
just so-so is helping house plenty to 
hit the $9,000 mark. Last week 
'Straight From Shoulder' (Par) and 
'Murder With Pictures' (Par) dual 
and vaude, profit at $8,200. 

Pantates (Pan) (2.700; 30-40-55)— 
'Swing Time* (RKO)- and 'Second 
Wife' (RKO), dual (2d week). The 
holdover stanza still attracting them 
to. A & R and week will be good 
but hot outstanding at around 
$10,500. Holds. Last week, first, 
which included special premiere was 
bit shy of figures but plenty torrid at 
bit short of $19,000. 

Paramount (Partmar) (3,595; 30- 
40-55)— 'Adventure in Manhattan' 



(Col) and 'Wives Never 1 Know' (Par) 
dual and stage - show. It's Jimmy 
Starr, local columnist, who is help- 
ing this duo of weak sisters cop 
some coin for the house. Take will 
hit around $14,500 which is weak. 
Last week 'Craig's Wife' (Col) and 
'Lady Be Careful' (Par), dual, and 
stage show. With upper bracket pic 
minus names, house was minus 
profit at $11,400. 

BKO (2,950; 30-40-55) — 'Swing 
Time* (RKO) and 'Second Wife* 
(RKO) dual (2d week). Astaire- 
Rogers pic seems bigger here than 
out Hollywood, way. Keeping at 
smart pace and will hit the $11,000 
mark for holdover week. Still an- 
other stanza to go. Last week,' first, 
was greatest $18,300. 
. State (Loew-Fox) (2,024; 30-40-55) 
—'Piccadilly Jim' (MG) and 'Star 
for Night' (20th), dual. Just fair and 
nothing to brag about is the $11,500 
being corralled this week. Last week, 
'Ramona' (20th) and 'Longest Night' 
(MG) dual. Came through better 
than figured and hit a profitable 
$13,200. ' 

United Artists (Fox-UA) (2,100; 
30-40-55)— 'Ramona' (20th) and The 
Longest Night' (MGJ, dual. Doing 
oke and will- wind up week with 
around $5,000. Last week, 'Dormi- 
tory'- -(20th) and 'Sworn Enemy* 
(MG), dual. Sort of skidded here 
and necessitated use of red for house 
in just edging over the $2,300 mark. 

DREAM' $12,700, 
NICE, INST. L 



St. Louis, Oct. 6. 
(Best Exploitation: Missouri) 

Two Shakespearean films, two. 
stage shows and wealth of good 
screen fare at big berthas give 
Mound City rialto a big league at- 
mosphere. Everybody's, enthusiastic, 
over biz and with annual Veiled. 
Prophet parade and ball thrown in 
for good measure, town has takeil 
on a carnival atmosphere. 

Missouri, with a standout cam* 
paign on 'Midsummer Night's Dream'; 
at pop prices, got off to a nice 
opening and house is in for $12,700. 
Pix was really sold to nabes and 
schools. 

Exploitation was a standout at 
three houses; top honors to Missouri 
for its school campaign. Second a 
tie for Ambassador for its stage show, 
drive and Fox f6r k.o. fashion hook- 
up with large department store that 
brought plenty Of free space through 
co-op ads. ■ 

(Estimates for This Week)' 
Ambassador (F&M) (3,018; 25-35- 
55)— 'Your Heart' (WB) and Paul 
Ash directing stage show. Big, $17,-* 
000. Last week 'Stage Struck 7 (FN) 
and Thank You, Jeeves' (20th), $12,- 
800, below expectation, 

Fox (F&M) (5,038; 25-35*55)— 
'Magnificent Brute' (U) and 'Girl on 
Front Page' (U). Good, $14,000. 
Last week 'Craig's Wife* (Col) and 
'Adventure in Manhattan' (Col)* 
$12,400, satisfactory, 

Loew's (Loew) (3,162; 25-35-55)— 
'Gorgeous Hussy' (MG) (2d week). 
Profitable at $9,200, Last week $18,- 
000, good but not what was expected. 

Missouri (F&M) (3.514; 25-35-55)— 
'Dream' (WB) and 'Back to Nature' 
(20th). Doing .$12,700, nice. Last 
week 'Walking on Air* (RKO) and 
'Velvet Claws 7 (FN), $10,300, aver- 
age. 

Orpbenm (F&M) (1,950; 25-35-50) 
— 'Mliss' (RKO) and 'Grand Jury' 
(RKO), dual. Ordinary at $6,000. 
Last week 'Anthony Adverse' .(WB). 
$6,800, fair. 

St. Louis (F&M) (4,000; 25-40)— 
Sing, Baby' (2d run) (20th) and 
Armida heading stage show. More ' 
than $7,600 needed to break house 
nut. Last week 'Girls' Dormitory' 
(20th) (2d run) and Louis-Ettore 
fight pics, with stage show. Below 
average at $7,400. 

Burr Setts His Dozen; 
Now Prepares to Prod. 

Hollywood, Oct. 6. '.' 

C. C. Burr is back on the Coast' 1 - 
after having closed 85% of the terri- 
tory for his two series of pictures. 
He spent two months on the road 
and now is ready to produce. ' 

Product will comprise six outdoor 
features starring George Eldredge 
and six detective yarns. First of the 
Eldredge stories will be 'Saddle 
Your Blues,' but it is not yet decided 
whether this or a detective yarn will 
be the first to go -before the lenses. 
Pictures will be filmed at Interna- 
tional Studios. 



Wednesday, October 7, 1<£3<5 





i 



12 



♦VABEETT'S' LONDON OFFICE, 
8 St. Mactla'a Place, Trafalgar Sqwu*. 



INTERNATIONAL NEWS 



T«lepho»« Temple Bar W 41-8M1 ' 
Cable Addieeu VARIETY, LONDON 



Ferry's London Revue Has Chance, 
25% Salary Cut Shaves Overhead; 
Fresh Coin; Ruth Ettings Walk 



London, Oct. 6. 
All the headaches -at Felix Ferry's 
■Transatlantic Rhythm,* splash: mu- 
sical, aren't:over yet by a long shot, 
though' the revue is running here 
and has a good chance - of getting 
straightened out. A' 25% cut which 
.went ,'ihto-. effect this week further, 
helps the' general situation. '. 

Show opened at the Adelphia 
Thursday. (1), 25. minutes ,late,.;wlth 
the management and' actors debating 
things until the ve"ry minute of cur- 
tain rise. Salaries had not been' paid 
for the end of the Manchester break- 
'in date and ; troupe wanted to know, 
why. Show had closed in. Manches- 
ter the preceding . Saturday. and 
opened here without: a single re- 
hearsal, meaning. /that stage-hands 
:.and electricians were completely un- 
familiar with the routine.- 

Jimmy Donahue, who bankrolled, 
had put up -more money than he 
agreed, and . figured his,$HP;00Q was 
enough.* Production was extra heavy, 
however; and washed up the coin. 
Much secretiveness here about a new 
backer, but understood 'that Jules 
^ Bache f the broker, stepped in with a 
" little coin id, help Felix Ferry tide 
over at the lajst minute. ' Also there 
is a mysterious American ' named Al 
Cohen, from Chicago, who is under- 
stood to have put up $25,000 to help 
out, '*■.,. '• .. ' v ': •' ', 

When the show' opened in London 
the audience was surprised to find a 
splendid production, carried but with 
. no apparent , hitches. Applause' was 
.heavy all around, with all the prin- 
' cipals scoring heavily; Newspapers 
spoke glowingly of the show the next 
morning,' but second night saw only 
fair takings. Saturday night, " how-; 
ever, biz was up and take' estimated 
$2,000 for the performance. 

Ruth Etting announced that she 
would play only on opening night to 
help out the remainder of the jcast 
She sails for America tomorrow (7) 
and- was replaced in the- show by 
. Dorothy Dare, a clever girl, who 
proved most' acceptable. 

Principals and both the- house and 
company managements' have held 
"several meetings to figure things out, 
including salary cuts all around. As 
lined up at present, the show cannot 
break even, if playing to capacity* 
House management agreed .to . reduce 
the guarantee rent and percentage if 
all the actors take a cut. Company 
then agreed to a 25% cut all around, 
which reduces the. nut to approxim- 
ately $20,000. 

Stimulating factor is that the libra* 
ries have offered to make a heavy 
purchase if guaranteed the show will 
straighten itself* out on internal bick- 
ering and continue indef. 

The American headliners, Lupe 
Velez, Lou Holtz and Buck and Bub 
bles, are the hits of the revue. 
■ ■ Nat Nazarro, representing Buck 
and Bubbles, calls nightly and col 
lects their pro rata salary before 
each performance on an or else basis 

ThiS-is the., show known originally 
as 'Ferry Tales.' Ferry's 'Roumanian 
citizenship was brought' into the 
British press with news of the back 
stage difficulties. ' 

Garland Wells, managing director 
of the Clapton Greyhound stadium, 
in answer, to' a report that Transat- 
lantic Rhythm' had been acquired by 
a London syndicate, confirmed and 
stated that he has an interest in the 
syndicate. 



'Ziegfeld' on 3-a-Day 

For Eiin in Sydney 

Sydney, Sept. 8. 
, 'Great Ziegfeld' will premiere here 
around Sept. 30th for Metro at i'.s 
own theatre.". Pic "comes in when 

" the run of 'San Francisco' concludes. 
'Ziegfeld* .'will run on a three-a- 
day policy as a complete show, with 
not even a short or newsreel in sup- 

. port. Hal Carleton, Bill Tinkler,, and 
Mike Lustig are handling the ex- 
ploitation. 

Sue: Porto Rico Exhib 

Mascot Pictures Corp. on Monday 
<&) filed suit in the N. Y. supreme 
court alleging breach of contract 
against Rafael Ramos Coblan, presi- 
dent of United Theatres, Inc., of San 
Juan, Porto Rico. • 

Mascot claims Cobian ran out on 
* . $8,000 contract toe Mascot plx, 
<T*Ujir the defendant was to exhibit 
In Porto Rico cinemas. • 



Americans 
In Lotldon 



London, Sept 20. 
Marc Connelly here ..again. . 
Carl Hyson and Peggy Harris are 
to be married here, .. Oct IT. . 

Tucker McXluire and Jack Arnold 
return to London in February . to 
feature, "in a new . Gaumont-British 
film, y '. ■ ; 

Dave Bader sharing an apartment 
with F.rank RubenSi . 

Earl St John, general manager of 
Paramount Theatres, away from his 
office for a few days duetto indis- 
position. . .:. ■' v',,/ 
° Courfenay Terrett. scripting the 
next Paul' Robeson picture for 
Capitol Films; Thornton Freeland is 
to direct. . . 

Alfred. Goulding. scripting and -di- 
recting the next Sidney Hqward pic- 
ture for Herbert ^Ucbx; may be 
titled 'Splinters in the Air/ ' 

Cliff'* Fischer off .to . France for., 
three weeks vacation, ..after which 
he begins to line up, his next New 
York show." ■- • - " ' ' ' 

If Monta Bell does another picture 
in England it wilt again be for- Alex- 
ander Kbrda, ancV -tyill be titled 
'Troopship.' . ■■ : ; ' '-.;.'•■ 

Chick ' York stayed behind, after 
shipping. .. his. . wife . . and " daughter 
home, to be .presented with a silver 
cup h£' won' itt:tKe 1^'ter Rats Golf 
Championship, presented by Chuck 
Reisner. Sails on Sept. 30. 

Billy Costello, 'Pop Eye the 
Sailor/ ; to., record four discs for 
Decca. '*, ♦ 

Molly Pigon and. husband off to 
Paris to play, a return engagement 
at the ABC. '•'■'/'. 
•Peter Ruric scripting a picture for 
Max Schach which ' Walter Futter 
will' direct, and in which Paul Robe 
son is to play the lead. 

Peggy .'Joyce week-ending at 
Marion Harris's country house near 
Windsor. 

Carroll arid. Howe 'signed by Jack 
Taylor tor his Blackpool show next 
year. ' •'•. i- ' 
- ' Ruth Etting set for 14 weeks for 
Ex Lax on Radio Luxembourg-. 

Mrs. Fred Sanborn ilL 
' George E. Stone Visiting the caba- 
rets here. 

Dave Bader hobnobbing with Pop 
Laemmle at Simpsons. 

Lew Leslie has acquired a French 
musical and an English version is 
now being made. Negotiating for 
Peggy Hopkins Joyce to star in it. 



AUSSIE FILM 



Vienna Extras Chase 
Free 'Atmosphere' Mob 

..Vienna, Sept 25. 

That the Vienna film extras will 
not stand lor any' kidding, was shown 
when a crowd of them beat up 
'amateurs' who had offered to play 
in Forst's 'Burgtheatre' picture with- 
out charging union wages. 

Company was shooting pictures in 
Leicht Variety Show, in front of the 
Burgtheatre. Mob of men and women 
who were looking for jobs were dis- 
appointed, to learn that there, were 
none because guests of the various 
cafes in the neighborhood had ven- 
tured to appear in the film gratis. 

Police had to be called out The 
amateurs fled \ahd the- extras were 
hired, ... 





ON WAY IN 





Sydney, Sept. 8. 

New South Wales' Exhibitors' 
Association has given "its entire, ap- 
proval to the setup proposed by the 
Film- Board of Trade under the 
chairmanship of Uan Carroll. 

Board will now comprise Carroll, 
Charles Munro (Hoyts), Ken As- 
prey (Greater Union), Sir Victor 
Wilson, N. B. Freeman, Ralph" Doyle 
(Motion Picture Distribs), and two 
representatives from the Exhibitors' 
Association, including William Har- 
rop. 

Some time ago it appeared as 
though negotiations for the forma- 
tion of the'F.B.T. would fall through, 
but under the generalship . of Dan 
Carroll all . branches of the industry 
finally agreed that a board was 
needed. 

Main objects of - the F.B.T. will* be 
to see that any disputes arising 
within the industry are dealt with 
In a fair manner, something that has 
been- lacking here. lor many years. 
Board will, handle questions of fur- 
ther theatre erection in districts- 
deemed ovfir-seatedt film contracts, 
free gifts,, minimum admissions, un- 
fair competition, and so. forth. 
. Government has given its sanction 
to the formation of, the F.B.T. and 
has offered to -assist; in' any way .it 
can. • 




Britons In 
Hollywood 



-: Mexico' City, Oct 6. 

Pic import^." are to be restricted, 
distribution; ' regulated *'< and, native 
productions given a wider exhibition 
break .with foreign filros^ under.; ,a 
proposition the ministry 'pf finance; 
has presented to. the special rinenia 
committee. -:Plan'xalls for. restricting; 
import footage' to the equivalent "of 
!20 pics. * a year for each importer; 
banning government registration for 
imports for any more foreign dis- 
tributors; nixing the right df one 
distributor representing several pro- 
ducers under a single permit, and 
demanding distributidn of Mexican; 
made pics on a ratio of one to five or 
six With foreign productions. 

Ministry asserts the proposition is 
urgent to help native producers meet 
keen, competition from foreign pics, 
Committee is expected to report on 
the plan this'month. When it does, 
the ministry will rush the measure 
to Congress. 



ED STIRLING'S ENGLISH 
CO. STARTS RIO SEASON 



. Hollywood,- Oct 6. 
May. Robson, looking regal in 
black embroidered taffeta, among the 
numerous British stars attending the 
•premiere of 'Romeo and :. ;Juliet' 
Others present were Elizabeth *Allen> 
in white taffeta; and Reggie Owens, 
Andy Devine, Gary Gran£ . the 
George Fitzmaurices'r *V , : . 

■ Donald Crisp bragging, that in his 
part of Michael . Davitt in 'ParneU' 
hell have 37 more speeches than the 
star, Clark Gable. > y : t • 

Errol Flynn, on location with Ian 
Hunter 'at Lasky Mesa this week, is 
planning a "South SeaS- jaunt. 
' George Brent loaned, to Colujnbia 
to start first vreek,'s ; jshopting wi 
'Safari - in Paradise'.' and- returning 
next' week 'to - his 4 home studio '. to; 
finish .'Mountain ' ' Justice* : * "(WB) 
directed by-Mike C&rtiz.'r^ . v ' 
■' Elsa'. Buchanan ' attending' .prevle^ 
of 'Gay Desperado' (P-L ) with her 
mother.' . r .* : :• 

Pat Knowles acquired three.' inoiS 
cats;, with his new house in Toluca 
Lake. That make? fjvei ,J *' 

.Olivia de Havilland headed for 
San Francisco and Cafnjei ,'with* Kei? 
mother, Mrs. 'Lynn" Fdntaine/ :' ' • ' ." 
. ^IUan:.Mpyi:t>rair.' wOi'-^i^ i.East.oi* 
vacation, as. soon r as he fihishes!ivbrk 
in ^Rainhow; - Oy^r th^Rivet.'^.^iij: 
Stibp'. 'in\C|^icago ; ;ph'e|^eek 
another, in. New;Yoi•k. , ; : ' 

„Louis -Jffay ward recuping ,f rdm re- 
cent illness, at -Palni'. SjprmgSt^here. 
thevwe^ther is very^warfn. ••'-*" ^"- r; 

Ralph Bellamy making his, 210th 
trip i to Jfoixa. Springsvin tvir<? years.' 

■ : Minnie ..Barnes , preJsehtedZ Director 
iHeriry. Koster with' ; $ .huge' sheaf of ; 
lilies on .finishing 'work in 'Three 
Smart Girls.'' , ' ' \. :. '."'■'[ 

Wendy Barrie getting off wo'rk on 
the U lot to attend tennis matches. 

Edmund Goulding heading for Palm. 
Springs, fori a rest after pulling out 
of 'Maytime.' . . 

Ida Lupino driving a new red 
roadster. ' .. V' .. . I ; ••%*,, -.. 

Sir Guy Standing fusing !his two""' 
day holiday putting his sailboat in 
trim for Sunday, racings .- .' : v ', 
British . coterie 6f r ,filmitef . well 
represented at cocktail party .given 
by Bess and Phil Lonergan tp;jntrb- 
duce Maurice Cowan, editor of Pic- 
turegoer and his wife, Laua Lehl- 
Cowan. Among those present were 
Victor McLaglen, Miles Mander, 
Maude' Fealy, .Elizabeth Patterson 
and Doris Lloyd. 



Rio de Janeiro, Sept. 24. ... 

Edward Stirling -and his English' 
Players open at the Copacabana Ca- 
sino theatre Sept. 30' under the 
patronage of the British Embassy, 
and under the auspices of the Anglo- 
Brazilian Cultural Society. .. 

General Director o£ the company 
is N. Viggiani, who is just concluding 
a successful Parisian season at the 
same theatre with French players 
Georges Mauloy, Andre Burgere, 
Lucienne Givry and Jean Clairjois. 

Headlining with Stirling is the 
English actress Margaret Vaughan, 
with supporting players Betty Thum- 
ling, Mary Macowan, Monica Stirlr. 
ing, Robert Gilbert, Peter Copley, 
John De Toney, Philip Howard .and 
Richard Williams. 

Repertory is Ervine'B, 'Anthony 
and . Anna/ Maugham's 'Sacred 
Flame,' G. H. Thomas' 'Winter Sun- 
shine,' .Martin Vale's "The Two Mrs. 
Carrolls,' Michael Egan's The Dom- 
inant Sex,' Neil Grant's 'Dusty Er- 
mine,' Frederic Lonsdale's 'On Ap- 
proval' and Twelfth Night' 

Single seats for the series of eight 
performances cost. $12. 



NEWER, TOUGHER RULES 
FOR DATES IN REICH 



Berlin, Sept. 27. 
Reichsfachschaft Artisik decrees 
that henceforth labor permits for 
foreign acts will only be forthcom- 
ing if' the complete program booked 
for the period_in question is sent In 
by the management. Without this 
program no -more , labor permits will 
be. granted. 

Another, decree says that from 
now on labor permits can only be 
granted to the management direct 
ahd no longer to the agents, as here- 
tofore. ' 

Requests for such permits must be 
sent In time, - meaning before the 
28th, of the monthj or the 13th if for 
a split month. • 




FILM CREDITS 



Berlin, Sept. 27. 
Following a lengthy period of 
heavy production, activity in all the 
film studios, the Film Credit Bank 
has -been obliged to stop, further 
credits. 

on their., prerogative of exclusively 
presenting theatres with topical 
screen material. 

Previous attempts of independent 
Aimers to shoot reels of news events 
have been successfully resisted by 
the main "units. 

Press story here declares that, for 
the first time ever, facilities may be 
offered to secure motion pictures of 
the actual crowning in Westminster 
Abbey, but newsreel editors declare 
it would be impossible to film inside ^ 
the Abbey without powerful lights 
and equipment 

Explained in official circles that 
there is no need for alarm and that 
this measure is only of a passing 
nature until money -is flowing back 
from credits allowed months ahead. 

In the meantime, minor changes 
in the production- .fiejd «eem inevi- 
table, but th? <; -dustry is; hopeful of 
an early settlement of the crisis. 



British Reels Squawk on 
Technicolor Coronation 



London, Sept 27. 
Five British newsreel units — Gau- 
mont, Movietone, Paramount Pathe 
and Universal— will contest the pro-» 
posal of Technicolor to release Its 
planned color record -of the Corona- 
tion ceremonies. Existing units have 
arranged, to pool their resources so 
as to provide each concern with full 
coverage and declare that, attempts 
of outsiders to horn in is an attack 



HOW QUOTA PK 
ARE DODGED 




Son, Sept" 21. 
Editor. ^Variety: • - * ■ 

As ah amusing, aspect of the quota 
law inlthis: country, who . could ever 
imagine "The Great Ziegfeld' being 
shown in a double feature program? 
Y<& pver here it is'* being '/shown in 
a three-feature bill and if the the- 
atre concerned did not -do this it 
w,oul4 be liable to prosecution, by the 
Board: of - Trade •for honjcbm&liance 
''i^'jiubta^^^^opsr^. ■ 
'-Another amazing L thing . experi- 
enced ^ott Saturday; last was to sit 
throiig^. . the- : screening ,-.pf ; a British 
•^up|a7jpicture ' be|hg .entjireiy alone t in ' 

ttie * theatre - (Outside toe attendants ). 
The Exhibitors'^uota Year (Oct."l 
to Sept. 36)',is "just -hearing its end, 
and all exhibitors ' have got to see 
that ttHeir B>ltlBh>.:footege;/screehed 
between ihj^e* times* js;i;0h^uarter : 
of the iAmerican or forejgn footage 
ae^^f-tKe' total, footage, Amer- 
icahv 'and' British, comb toed). The 
Plaial.'theatre, London, a J! ^Pj^rttounti 
house, is evidently veiy .jjeh^J* 2 
with 'Its quota ' f ootage, ah^L tmis 
it. is jshowinig .two British picture's, 
Payfcv;3Htpbes6n's/ 'Son^. b'f -.Freedom' 
(the main' feature)' ahc^'Caliirig the 
Tuhe, v an unirnpjiJftan4.vpicture -made' 
by Phoenix Films. '.'Song, of 'Free- 
dom' --"is shown fiv^ '^iWes *'.a Vday, ' 
which, .being 7^225 r feet long, counts 
36,125, 4661-^ quota" purposes. To 
get .in eyen pore fobtage they, show 
"Callirjg the Tune' six times ' a day 
(6,141 feet 16ng, counting 36,846 ft. ), 
putting it on<-agaift at- 11 o'clock' at 
night after the iast,.sh6wing- of ^Song 
of Freedom' has -ftoished;: -Calling jthe. 
Tune' was on the. timetable outside 
for 11 o'clock, and,. I ^weht in .at 9;30 
intending to see the whole pfograifc 
At the end of 'Song pf Freedom* the) 
organist instead .of playing.. the "Na* 
tional Anthem, as .would- normally be 
done," played two whole choruses of 
one of the theme son^s from the .pic*' 
ture' f and • deliberately, let nearly 
everyone out of. the theatre before 
'Calling the .Tune', came" on- again 
(only , those whq happened to look 
at the timetable carefully would 
know -that it was showing at 11 
O'clock). .' After, about 20 minutes of 
'Calling the Tune' everyone except 
myself had. left the theatre/. Later 
on 1 heard father worried talking 
among the attendants,- who were evi- 
dently wondering whenever I was 
going to leave. About 11:55 the man- 
ager came up to me and said that 
in two 'minutes .. they wete. going to 
stop the film, as it was' just on mid- 
night. I told him it was a disgrace- 
ful way of getting round the Quota 
Act, arid that the Board of Trade 
would be. interested; to. hear about it. 
He apologized and., .gave i,,rae. twp, 
complimentary seats for any subsg- . 
quent performance I cared to attend. 
What they do,' of course, is" to stop,, 
the film after everyone has left. 
They had not counted oh anyone sit- 
ting right through to the end of it. 

The British Quota Act.has be^h 
responsible for some strapge . things. 

• " C. M.. Ashton. : 

London's Casualties 

. London r Oct 6. 
'No Ordinary Lady,' opened at the 
Duke of York's Wednesday (30). It 
is an adaptation of a Louis Verneuil 
French play and unlikely. Ellen 
Pollock heads the cast in the farce. 

'Follow Your Saint' closed at the 
Queen's Saturday (3) . after 11 
nights. 'Certainly Sir 1 closed at the 
Hippodrome after a fortnight. 'Mur- 
der on Account' will close at the 
Winte?garden Saturday (10) after a 
fortnight. 



C. B. Cochran's Next 

London, ' Sept 27. 
Charles Cochran's next musical 
production is due about Christmas 
time. As yet untitled, book is by 
A. P. Herbert music by Nikolas 
Brodzsky, and will star Gitta Alpar 
and Blnnie Hale. 

'As usual with big Cochran shows, 
it will open }n Manchester jtor four 
weeks before coming to London. 

Charles B. Cochran has signed 
Nels6n Keys for his hew .revue. , . . . 

This makes three stars, including 
Binnie Hale, and Gitta Alpar, for 
the show. 



'VARIETY'S' LONDON OFFICE, 
St. Hitrtlo'S Place, Trafalgar Square 



INTERNATIONAL NEWS 



TelHhone temple But 6041-5042 
Cable .Idtlress: VAJRIETK, LONDON 



IS 








' '■ '■' ' * '°/ \ *' ; " ' „ . London, Sept. 29. 

. As^a; fact. tP>.- support their squawks against overseating, British 
exhibs are alarmed at the revelation of 80 new theatre promotions 
during September, giving an average of 1,000 for the full year. Build- 
ing here is rlHng' to 1 a'peak; largely due to circuit competition inspired 
by 4he struggles of major distribs for guaranteed markets, 

Odeon, Union and Bernstein chains are responsible for many of the 
new ventures,^ but independent promoters are equally active through- 
out' country. .... t '_ 

Oscar DeutscK, Odeon chief, struck a snag when he asked approval 
of oite'.of'fcSs 'theatre promotions at Croydon, South London nabe, only 
tp find ibis scheme officially opposed by London branch of the Ex- 
hibitors! Assocjiation. Deutsch got his permit, but the hurt was in 
the fact that only ia week previous he, . with other circuit, heads .rep-- 
resenting over 1,(160 theatres, agreed to co-operate' with independent 
exhibs in lacing 1 the 'over-building situation. 




\ . a *^bndpri^ .Sept. 29'. 

Indie .exhlbs^s^em. likely, at last,' 
to;]get^eir. wayy'^){ith a probe ready- 
ing into ,ttie, : overseating situation, 
seeix. here currently in theatre cir 
cle3 as a msjor> ; trade problem. At 
'.: a. meeting this 'week between the 
Cinematograph . Exhibitors' . Associa 
tlon. officers land.; representatives of 
the chains^ qvex" L000 circuit halls 
allied themselves with, the indies in 
agreeing to • eye - the situation. 

Resulting from- this,, major dis- 
tributors are giving -second thought 
to the matter, and are now expected 
to co-operate, so as to make the in 
quiry a trade-wide affair. Earlier 
requests to. .the Kinematograph 
Renters?' Society from the C.E.A. for 
. support got a cold shoulder, but the 
latest situation means that the K.R.S. 
wilt favorably discuss setting up* a 
joint committee, . 

Jockeying among distribs for the- 
atre, tie-ins means the former can- 
not stand disinterested to a move- 
ment likely to affect cinema build- 
ing .and . development, though it is 
difficult to imagine renters and ex- 
hibitors seeing eye to eye, with one 
concerned in developing a market 
and the other anxious to restrict new 
promotions. 

?D og-in-Manger' 

Trade opinion sees small likeli- 
hood of any progressive step towards 
checking new ventures, with the 
dog-in-the-martger tactics of. small 
theatres of long standing a weak 
caTd :! to play against the demands of 
big nifrt ' corporations for the best 
possible 1 "outlet A lot • product. What 
may be achieved, though this is like- 
wise 1 dbtibtf ill,' 1 'is Ithe stifling of 
abuses, ' ; , such^ ' W circuit influence 
among licensing bodies directed 
against indies, or "threats from dis- 
tribs to build against houses that 
squawk against rental ' terms. 

Fact ihaf maWy'te'die exhibs of the 
older ''school ''disregard is the rapid 
fluctuation ih'public taste* Theatres 
erected ten or 15 years .back are 
obsolete bV'flrj^rjd standards, natu- 
rally inviting opposition from pro- 
moters with newer ideasj reluctance 
of small' theatre' operators to develop 
their falls' may be due to small 
profits earned at their box offices, 
but is more likely due to- lack of 
foresight and initiative. 

Further factor working against in- 
dies' is" growing realization among 
local authorities that standards of 
safety and comfort in many old cine- 
mas; lags behind current thought, as 
instanced in waves of new regula- 
tions forcing modernization on exist- 
ing licensees,— an attitude behind 
which some exhibs see the iron hand 
of the circuits, who can accordingly 
employ arguments that they will 
provide facilities the public de- 
mands, but which old-fashioned halls 
cannot supply. 

Distrib View 

Film distributors. - are only con- 
cerned in. building, and maintaining 
the biggest possible market,, and 
American and British renters, alike, 
can argue rightly -.'that they derive 
more levenu'eJErpm. bigger., and betr 
ter. ..theatres!,- than .j .from .-the older 
type, if. pnjjr. .-f«f the fact that the. 
former can command a higher scale 
of admissions.-' <•. ... v ,, 

Position, as the joint co'minjtteift 
when formed will quickly discover. 
» complicated out of all helief; if 



exhibs expect much satisfaction 
from it they will • soon • be disillu- 
sioned, finding the constant laws of 
supply • and . demand • or , the trend 
away from individualism, .towards 
rationalization are forces. .they are 
not strong enough to resist. 

Informed sections of the trade are 
ready to tell them now what they 
may hope for — just another head- 
ache. 



16 NEW HOUSE 
FOR BERNSTEIN 



London, Sept. .27.' 

Sydney Bernstein announces ex- 
pansion of his theatre circuit by the 
erection of 16 new houses in and 
around London this year and next. 
Ten are in construction and plans 
are being laid down for the re- 
mainder in key suburban and 
Greater London spots. ' :. 

All theatres but one will be named 
Granada, which Bernstein uses for 
his other existing theatres, and seat- 
ing will vary between i;500 and 3,750 
per, with an aggregate of 35,000 for 
the lot. Granada, Tooting, most 
luxurious house in the suburbs, will 
be a model for the entire group, 
which will have lavish furnishing, 
restaurants and lounges. 



LONDON BANS PEACE 
FILM, 'CONTROVERSIAL' 



London, Sept. 27. 
Local exhibs jammed a plan to 
show The Peace of ' Britain,' propa- 
ganda film, during the Peace Week 
celebrations at Bolton, Lancashire. 
Following a request from organizers 
of the event, theatremen met and 
decided to bar the film on the 
grounds that it was too contro- 
versial. 

Picture was news last March, 
when the Board of Censors refused 
to grant it a certificate until forced 
to do so by public outcry. 

Film runs only four minutes and 
calls for conciliation in place of the 
horrors of modern warfare. 



G-Bs Theatre Sabsid 
Shows Profit on Year 



London, Sept. 29. 
Associated Provincial Picture 
Houses, theatre subsid of Gaumont- 
British, shows a profit of $576,180 in 
its annual statement just issued ,and 
recommends a .final, Dayment to 
'stockholders at the rate of .4%, equal 
to ,6% .for the full year. . Net shows 
an increase'. exceeding; $60,000 on, the 
previous year's figures. 

Encouraging results follow the 're- 
cent , success of General . Theatres 
.Corp- - second G-£ t£e*tre grO.up, 
whjcji resumed ,dlYiqends this.' year 
with a payment of 12% on Ordinary 
stock, after a lapse of several years. 




Will Decide Mutually Satis- 
factory Terms for Cata- 
lonian Territory— Barce- 
lona Re$s in -to 
Their Side 



WHAT 'TO DO 



> . Paris, Sept. 27. 
• Future fate of American film in- 
terests in the' important Spanish 
market of Catalonia is now being 
settled in Paris. 

; Momentarily forgetting the com- 
plicated problems confronting them 
in France and other foreign coun- 
tries, European heads of the seven 
big American • producing and dis- 
tributing companies, assisted by 
their Barcelona and Spanish repre- 
sentatives, are jointly attacking the 
problem of whether .they shall or 
shall not send more pictures into the 
now anarchistic, ' syndical-controlled 
portion of a country ravaged by 
revolution. 

At the same time, Jose-Maria 
Espinar, delegate of the Barcelona 
Syndicate of Spectacles, which has 
practically taken over control 'of 
theatres' and film houses throughout 
the Mediterranean, province, is in 
town with an assistant for the pur- 
pose of negotiating witn the Ameri- 
can companies. He "has come to 
Paris, it is stated, to assure that 
Barcelona and the province of Cata : 
Ionia will be supplied with film? 
during the coming season. But what 
terms he has brought and what 
offers he intends to make, if any, is 
a secret only he. himself knows. 
Secret Confcbs 

Although all. conversations so far 
held by the Americans have been 
behind closed doors, Variety learns 
on good authority that the Yanks 
are mapping out a common policy 
whereby they can present a unified 
front to Espinar when the final 
negotiatibns are made. 

On their side they have been 
joined by delegates from Mutua, 
Spanish Board of Trade, and inde- 
pendent- Spanish distributors who 
have come here to pool their inter- 
ests with the Americans. They are 
helped in this respect by the fact 
that- several Americans' belong to 
Mutua. 

Among ^jthe members of. the 
American companies and their Span- 
ish representatives who_have been 
taking part- in the talks are the fol- 
lowing: Jot 20th Century-Fox,' Ben- 
jamin Miggins, European general 
manager, and S. S. Horen, com- 
pany's Spanish manager; for Para- 
mount, Frederick W. Lange, conti- 
nental manager 1 and M. J. Messeri, 
Barcelona representative; . for War- 
ner Brothers, M. Michatid of the 
Paris office and Renee.Huet, Span- 
ish manager; for M-G-M, L. L. Law- 
rence, European manager, and Louis 
Echevarria, Spanish rep; for Colum- 
bia, Joseph Friedman, continental 
manager; for RKO-Radio. H. W. 
Leasim, director general for Euro- 
pean sales, and Robert Trillo from 
Spain; ior United Artists, W. L. 
Kastner, local head, and M. Morgan, 
Spanish rep; for Universal. S. Kusiel, 
continental manager, and G. Aguilar, 
Spanish rep. 

DEUTSCH'S ALHAHBRA 
AS UA SHOW WINDOW 



Hoyts Lost $55,000 in '32, Earned 
$305,000 Past Year; Aussie Comeback 
Reason (or Probable G-T Splitap 



Those Americans 



Wellington; N. Z., Sept. 8. 

Walter Hutchinson, Fox for- 
eign boss, has arrived here and 
will make a short- stop before 
proceeding to Australia. Stan- 
ley Crick,] Fox head in this ter- 
ritory, . is' showing' Hutchinson 
around. l ; 1 

Hutchinson created a big im- 
pression when he arrived here 
escorted by. a valet. Valet gag 
is something unknown to the lo- 
cal moguls, but when any of , 
the: big boys go abroad In the 
future they will probably all 
get themselves valets. 



Hoyts Acquires 




Theatres in N. Z. 



Sydney, Oct. ff. 

Hoyts (20th Century-Fox) has, 
made a deal to expand its chain Info 
New Zealand. There has been a lot 
of jockeying here recently for the 
N. Z. territory with this, the first 
concrete deal of importance. Hoyts 
buys out the Moodabe Circuit, ac- 
cording to this deal,, getting 6* the- 
atres .in that .territory. Stanley 
Crick, 20th Century-Fox chief in this 
territory, and Charles Munro, man- 
aging director of Hoyts, set. the deal, 
with the Moodabe Bros, who came in 
from Wellington . several times to 
talk things over. Before actual sig- 
nature was made, papers were 
okayed by Walter Hutchinson, head 
of 20th-Fox's foreign department, 
who happens to be here. 

Another deal which was hot late 
last week, but which is now tem- 
porarily off, : would link the J. C. 
Williamson Corp. and the Fuller- 
Hayward group' in New Zealand. 
This would make a hefty combo of 
theatres, but may merely be just a 
prearrangement, with further amal- 
gamations in mind. 



VIENNA CENSORS BAN 
"WONDERBAR' - 'KING' 



Vienna, Sept. 25. 

Austrian film fans will net get to 
see 'Sissy' .('King Steps Out') (Col), 
and 'Wonderbar' (WB). Former is 
taken from Fritz Kreisler's Vienna 
legit success of three years ago, de- 
picting the life o£ Elizabeth and 
Franz Josef. Reason of censors 
for not allowing it: 'it shows Franz 
Josef in an. unfavorable light' ' 

'Wonderbar/ operetta success by 
Robert Katscher, Viennese, contains 
a scene in heaven, which did not find 
the approval of the censors. 



, Sydney* Sept. 8. 

Building. up in. the. last four years 
from a loss , of $55,000 .in 1932 to a 
profit of $305,000 this year, Hoyts has - 
turned swiftly from operations in the 
red to a definite, .black financial 
status. Profits in the past' 12 months 
have been so good that two dividends 
have been declared on the pref- 
erence stock, total paid out this year 
being 6% on the 'A' and 5% on the 
*B'. preferen.ee,. issues. Payments. 
represent a total outlay of approxjir 
mately $256,000. 

• Vast .pick-iip : in income is .'at-, 
tributed to Hoyts policy of consoli- 
dating and improving its theatres. 
Company 'spent $£30,000 in 1935-36 in - 
re-mod,elling and. re-building various 
houses of the chain. Plans to build 
three new -theatres at once under 'the 
supervision of Charles. Munro, man- 
aging, director. 

Indicative of the improved earn- 
ing capacity of Hoyts. is seen in. the 
statement, .niade-,. by \ Munro ,'in 
which he mientioii? that' Hoyts is ppw . 
entirely., out of the. banker clutches 
and that new, houses< will- be con- 
structed in . a number of neighbor- 
hood ■ and - country spots] Claimed 
that. Hoyts will not pay excessive 
rentals, but will build its own thea- 
tres instead. .... 

All of which should make fine ' 
reading for Walter Hutchinson, Fox 
foreign boas, .when he arrives . here 
this week for a look at the Fox- in- 
terests in Australia. With Hoyts so ' 
solidly set, it should be .interesting to- ^ 
watch developments as they affect 
General Theatres. Whether Hoyts 
will be content to continue with 
Greater Union on the General Thea- 
tre hook-up is something that the big 
chiefs must decide. This is given 
as the reason for Hutchinson's visit 
here. 

Greater Union has also done well 
financially in recent months and, 
with the return of Stuart Do> its 
chief, from America, circuit will 
'steps looking towards further ex~ 
pansion. 

Not so long, ago both circuits were 
in almost desperate financial straits, 
with bankers, stepping in to save the 
day after both agreed to stop fight- 
ing. If both decide to go it alone 
again now, as they probably will, the 
battle for top spot. in Australia 
should be a warm onie.^ • 



RAW0 DENIES DEAL 
WITH ABC IN LONDON 



London, Sept. 27. 
Radio Pictures will not go into a 
deal with .John Maxwell to link 
itself with his Associated British 
circuit, Ralph Hanbury; head of the 
London exchange, .says in answer to , 
Variety's story that, this company' 
and Columbia are dickering with 
A. B. C. 

Hanbury declares that Radio is 
doing pretty nicely oh an indepen- 
dent policy of selling in an open 
market and would not consider tie- 
ing-in with a circuit. 



. London, Oct 6. 

Odeon Circuit, headed by Oscar 
Deutsch, is taking Over the Alham-' 
bra from Sir Oswald Stoll and re- 
constructing ' it . into' a. 2,000-seat 
cinema. .'" ' ,„. . 

This is the first entry of Deutsch' 
into the West End and,, through |hjs 
flnanci'aV.'al|iarice' jv.ith United ArtisK,, 
'means 'the house wiil'pe,^ new showj. 
window for UA pics. ' 

At present UA is using the Pa- 
vilion on a rental basis. 



Donat Muffs Another 

London, Sept 29. 
Robert Donat is out of another 
British picture, and his spot opposite 
Marlene Dietrich in Korda's 'Knight 
Without Armour' goes to Laurence 
Olivier. 

Donat has been down with asthma, 
but had not recovered when -the 
scenes in .which' he ''Was 1 hot needed 
were' completed. 



HEW SYDNEY NABE . 

"' •' Sydney, Serif. 8. ' 
NewTjabe theatre '\s schfedUled'tor J 
'.erection 'at : Marrickville, 'N.S/'W;' for* 
^ George Webster. This' will'" give 
'.Webster eight nabe theatres, all 
playing Par-Metro product. 



Rock's 8 for Hagen 

London, SapL 29. 
Joe Rock is to put his produc- 
tions out through Julius Hagen's or- 
ganization, with a schedule of eight 
pictures promised for the coming 
season. 

Rock is currently working on 
three, and will withhold one subject 
starring Harry Roy, top-line ban* 
leader, under an existing commit- 
ment with Associated British Film 
Distributors. • •-• : 



NEWS IN THE CELLAR; 

• London, Jbct. '6. 

Clavering Bros. , has taken 'the site 
of the v f6rme'r ,Stag£ department 
store .in' Leicester Square 'and "will ' 
erect" ah eight-st6ry"'bjfflcfe 'IhiildingJ 
there. ' " '' '•" "'. • 

News reel theatre in the basement. 



VARIETY 



SHOW THESE EIGHT ALL-AMERICAN 
FOOTBALL STARS IN ACTION .... 

in the grandest gridiron drama that 
ever challenged formula to give 
your crowds their cheeringest foot' 
ball thrills t A STORY filmed from 
the popular novel by Francis 
Wallace— punch-packed for excite- 
ment; heart -throbbed for romance! 



3? 



t ' ViiX... 



4k 



R K 0 - R A D I 0 
PICTURE 



Wednesday, October 7, 1936 



FILM 



EVIEWS 



VARIETY 



15 



CRAIG'S WIFE 

Columbia production arid release. Fea- 
turea John Boles, Rosalind Russell, Blllie 
Burke. Jane . Darwell, Dorothy Wilson, 
Alma Kroger, Robert Allen, Nydla West- 
man. Directed by Dorothy Arzner. From 
nlay of. aame name by George Kelly; adap- 
tation, Mary. C. McColl, Jr.; film editor, 
viola Lawrence; camera, Luclen Ballard, 
it Mu»Jc Hall, N. Y., week Oct. 1, '38. 
Running time, 73 mine. • 

Harriet Craig**.. • • • Rosalind Russell 

■Walter Craig.*... .» John Boles 

Mrf. : Fraaler. .■,•'•■»•« Blllie Burke 

Mrs. Harold.. >>. !<••'•• Jnne Darwell 

Ethel Ijndretb;.. ....Dorothy Wilson 

jjlss Austen .' Alma Kruger 

Fergud'i .PHSsmore Thomas Mitchell 

Billy Hlrlcrtrro.. Raymond Walburn 

Gene Fredericks.,,.- ..Robert Allen 

Mrs. Lnndrethi ... r .Elizabeth Rlsdon 

Mar.Ie «'••• Nydla Westm.m 

Adelaide Passmofe Kathleen Burke 

'Craig's Wife,' adapted from 
George Kelly's play of 1926, is a 
forceful character study whose value 
is enhanced by markedly good per- 
formances, notably Rosalind Rus- 
sell's, but its appeal will be limited. 
The finished product suggests sup- 
port from a class • element rather 
than the masses; It is more of a 
than a man's dish and 



cent; 

While the -producers have sought 
•to give pictorial body to a play that 
dealt largely in dialog in delivering 
its message, the . failure to insert 
comedy relief 1 and • give greater 
strength to a subsidiary love inter- 
est deprives the subject of better 
entertainment and appeal chances. 
Dorothy Wilson and Robert Allen 
could have been played up more for 
romantic flavoring against the action 
which is killing another romance, 
that of Craig and his shrewish wife. 
Both Miss Wilson and Allen suggest 
that they could have given the pic- 
ture much added weight by what 
they do in the footage permitted. 
For a time it appears they have been 
lost altogether. 

Because . of- the ..pains taken to 
viciously build up the character of 
Mrs. Craig, whose mania for a beau- 
tiful home and security causes her 
to sacrifice, everything else, the pic- 
ture frequently is slow, deliberate 
and talky; In hands less capable 
than Miss Russell's and others in 
the cast, 'Craig's Wife' might have 
been a big bore, despite the relatively 
short running time of 73. minutes. As 
it is, it is entertainment largely 
through the skill of the cast and the 
careful presentation of the charac- 
teristics of a selfish wife. 

Miss Russell deserves stardom 
. after her work in this one. She has 
110 easy time' as Craig's shrewish 
Wife, but gives it all the bite the 
character contains, embittering 
everybody against herself in the 
most beautiful manner. She has one 
excellent scene at the finish when 
even the servants have left, leaving 
her completely alone, and her sister 
has died. While she begins to soften 
with this turn of events, it is subtly 
suggested that she still treasures the 
exactness of her home, plus its con- 
tents, above her husband and other 
losses . sustained. In addition to 
'Craig's Wife' being a character 
study, it is a .study in acting. 

Boles plays the husband restrain- 
edly and very sympathetically, wait- 
ing until the virtual last straw be- 
fore rebelling. Several supporting 
characters are unusually well por- 
trayed. Miss Wilson is an alive, 
vivacious young girl who shines 
brilliantly in the little time afforded 
her. She's a comer. Allen, opposite 
her, .is likewise impressive but he, 
too, will have to await fatter roles 
!&> sho*ri«aJly.what he can do. As 
\lie KoMe^toer in the Craig house- 
ftofd,,;! Jan£ Darwell is excellent, 
wwfc a ITtielpe's' who gets uncere- 
mdnlwjsly^atined is Nydia Westman, 
also" very ^gedd^" . Billie Burke plays 
a neighbor whose hobby is raising 
flowers and whose regret is that she 
isn't more welcome in the Craig 
home. 

While tfiq|*dialtfg, most of it prob- 
ably from tlw^Kelly play, is pungent 
all the way, tit" may be that there is 
a little too much of it against too 
small a dose of action. Direction of 
Dorothy .Arzner is competent, but in 
one spot an ' unintended audience 
laugh is created when Boles, burning 
over the.'f.act the wife curbs him in 
his household, walks up to a preci- 
ous .vase' the missus treasures, con- 
templates it for a moment and then 
smashes it. Char. 



NINE DAYS A QUEEN 

(BRITISH MADE) 

Ctamnont-Mrltlsli production and release. 
Stars Sir (Vdrie Hardwlcke, Nova rilbeam; 
'•"Wirea John Mills. Written and directed 
by Robert Stevenson; dialog, Miles Malle- 
«;>n; editor, T, R. Fisher; camera, M\ 
Greenbaum. At Roxy, N. Y.. week Oct. 
2. .ttl. nunnlng time, 80 inlns. 

Karl of Warwick Cedrlc Hardwlcke 

jAdy ,lane Grey Nova Plllieam 

'-ml fiulirord Dudley John Mills 

Mwnrd VI Desmond Tester 

i'-' len Sybil Tborndlke 

Gliomas Seymour Leslie Perrlnr 

»*nry VIII Frank Oelller 

inward Seymour.% Felix Aylmer 

Mary Tudor. ..... .Gwen Ffrangcon Davles 

Jane's Parents 5 Mnrllta Hunt 

t. , _ " " \ Miles Mnlleson 

flarnaby Fltzpatrlck Albert Davles 

V "• Emcrton 

J oi»\ Knox ..John Laurie 

aJ\ , h . n Qates Arthur Goullet 

Ar "nJel •' John Turnbull 

-An historical costume piece, this 
wrtish film is sombre, slow and 
inclined to be dull. There are no 
names to help even slightly at the 

+K 0 ' 5 n this side o£ the Atlantic, and 
; ne d ' a log is clipped and muffled in 
inat British manner so irritating to 



American audiences, Some of it is 
so slurred by the actors as not to 
be at all decipherable in the U. S. 

Built around the historic episode 
just prior to the ascendancy of Mary 
Tudor to the English throne, if is 
conceivable that G-B had to be care- 
ful with the production. There is 
nothing here to offend. In fact it is 
all quite seriously and well done 
from a British studio standpoint. It 
links up partly with 'Mary of Scot- 
land (RKO) and some of the same 
characters are seen. But G-B prob- 
ably figured it had to. stick to native 
talent in its film and thus lost out 
pn possible U.S. profits. For Eng- 
land it should be quite fine. 

It's an interesting enough, though 
unpleasant yarn. Henry VIII dies and 
is succeeded by the boy, Edward. 
Plotting starts on all sides and the 
Earl of Warwick shunts Lady Jane 
Grey in ahead of Mary Tudor.- She's 
a queen only nine days before the 
Tudor queen romps in and has her 
head chopped. 

Gaumont committed an error in 
assigning Nova Pilbeam to the Lady 
„ ^ Jane role. Miss Pilbeam only last 

woman's tnan a mans dish and year was playing child parts and 
more for. the adult than the adoles- Jaere she is cast as a young married 



queen, although admittedly stilf in 
her 'teens and forced to the mar- 
riage. She looks even younger. G-B's 
problem, of course, is what to do 
with Miss Pilbeam now that she's 
getting a bit too old to be a kid any 
longer. . The answer's obvious 
enough: give her a vacation for a 
couple of years. She has a lot of stuff. 
She should be a fine actress when 
she grows up. Expecting her to 
handle this emotional, mature as- 
signment is unfair to her. 

In the support, G-B has collected 
a fine British troupe. Sir Cedric 
Hardwicke, splendid actor, is ex- 
cellent as Warwick, despite the fact 
he is one of the offenders on 
slurred pronunciations. (Or maybe 
it's the sound man's fault). John 
Mills is his son, a tough assignment, 
and not convicing. Felix Aylmer is 
excellent as Edward Seymour, the 
top performance of the film, with 
Leslie Pen-ins as his brother not far 
behind. Gwen Ffrangcon Davies, one 
of the best legit actresses in London 
(she plays mostly the same parts 
over there as Katharine Cornell 
plays here) has only a bit as Mary 
Tudor and carries it off well; should 
"have been given more to do. Sybil 
Thofndike is well cast as Lady 
Jane's lady. Frank Cellier impresses 
in a theatric bit as Henry. 

Photography is only fair, but pro- 
duction fine and, in spots, impres 
sive. Where audiences are high- 
brow or historically inclined 
(schools, etc.). picture may do a bit 
better than elsewhere, but on the 
whole it won't find the goin«j easy 
in the U.S. Kauf. 



KELLY THE SECOND 

Metro release of Hal Roach production. 
Features Patsy Kelly. .Charley Chase, 
Gulnn 'Big. Boy' Williams, Pert Kelton. 
Directed by Gus Melns. Story, Jeff MolT- 
itt and. William Terhune; adaptation, Jack 
Jevne and Gordon Douglas; dialog-, Tom 
Bell and Arthur V. Jones; camera. Art 
Lloyd. At Rialto, N. Y., week Oct. 2, '39. 
Running time, 70 mlns. 

Molly Kelly Patsy Kelly 

Cecil Callahan... Gulnn 'Big Boy" Williams 

Gloria Pert Kelton 

Dr. J. Wllloughby Klutn. .. .Charley Chase 

Ike Arnold ; Edward Brophy 

Spike Harold Huber 

Butch Flynn Max Rosenbloom 

Judge ..; DeWItt C. Jennings 

Fur Trader Billy Gilbert 

Dan Syd Saylor 



'Kelly the Second', probably will 
be welcomed in the duals, because it 
is filled with humorous moments. 
But it is too lightweight in plot and 
accomplished results to stand up 
alone in most spots. 

In Patsy Kelly and Charles Chase, 
Metro has teamed two of its ace 
comics from short features. Picture 
has been trimmed about 15 minutes 
since originally released, and that 
helps a lot. Even so, some of the 
gagging actually slows down the 
pace midway. Runs 70 minutes now, 
which is plenty for the average 
comedy of this sort, especially if 
placed with another picture. 

Jeff Moffitt and William Terhune's 
screen play is the old familiar of a 
street fighter who quits the truck- 
ing business to become a profes- 
sional ring battler. New twist, at 
least for the screen, is that he has a 
pugnacious Irish lass as his trainer 
and biggest booster. He's 'Big Boy'' 
Callahan, who rises to a champion- 
ship, despite his enormous appetite. 

Authors and the adapting team of 
Jack Jevne and Gordon Douglas hit 
upon the happy expedient of stress- 
ing the part played by a group of 
mobsters. Without this counter- 
thread Of plotting, the film would go 
the way of all prize fight laugh 
epics. It's played for comedy effect, 
and rightly so. 

Some brisk dialog from the pen/5 
of Tom Bell and Arthur V. Jones 
saves many situations when they be- 
come tangled with slapstick, but 
even they fail to stave off a sheer 
hokum finish. 

Patsy Kelly has more to do than 
Usual. She's the fighter's trainer. 
Much of the natural laughter is 
caused by her delivery and clown- 
ing. 'Big Boy' Williams is a perfect 
fit. as the street brawler who climbs 
to fame with his dukes. Charley 
Chase is partially dwarfed by these 
two but garners his share of laurels 
with his familiar comedy routine. 
He gets a real chance to talk in sev- 



Miniature Reviews 



•Cray's Wife* (Col). Excellent 
character study, very ably 
acted, but draggy and limited 
in appeal. 

'Nine Days a Queen' (GB). 
British costume play without 
marquee, lure for the U. S. 

'Kelly the Second' (Metro). 
Fast-action comedy of prize 
ring, with Patsy Kelly and 
Charley Chase. 

'Two In a Crowd' (U). Prom- 
ising story wrecked by poor 
scenario.. 

'Missing Girls' (Chest). Tepid 
racketeer yarn, arriving at late 
date. A certain dualler. 



eral scenes, and cashes in. Chase 
is a druggist who accidentally be- 
comes a fight manager. 

Pert Kelton is given a grand break 
as a gangster moll, and she cleans 
up, Edward Brophy is tops as the 
gangster chief. Maxie Rosenbloom 
is cast in role of champ who 'Big 
Boy' conquers in the inevitable 
championship match. Harold Huber, 
DeWitt ,C. Jennings, and Syd Saylor 
are efficient in supporting roles. 

Wear. 



MISSING GIRLS 

Chesterfield release of George R. 
Batcheller production. Features Roger 
Pryor, Muriel Evan*, Sidney Blackmer. 
Directed by Phil Rosen. Screenplay by 
Martin Mooney and John W. Kraltt. Cam- 
'era, M. A. Anderson; Him editor, Roland 
Reed; asst. director, Melville Shyer. At 
Globe, N. T.. week Oct. 6, '30. Running 
Time, 05 mlns. 

Jlmmle Dugan . . . . Roger Pryor 

Dorothy Benson Muriel ICvana 

Dan Collins Sidney Blnckmer 

Ben Davis Noel Madison 

Ann Jason .Ann Doran 

Zlg George Cooper 

Harry Wilson Dewey Robinson 



nothing to do with the army except 
make money photographing it. He's 
& nutty photog who still thinks he's 
young enough to marry a girl in her 
'teens. It's a good character role and 
Roberts does it neatly. 

Rest of the cast are just so many 
cogs in a big military machine. Here 
the acting doesn't count It's the 
tempo of the thing. Director Bup- 
pertz gets this across with the stomp 
of a five-piece brass band. It would 
have been even zippier in spots if 
Huppertz hadn't reached back so far 
in the newsreel library for some of 
his parade scenes. The negatives arc 
so old they look as though thev were 
filmed in a hurricane. Edga. 



TWO IN A CROWD 

Universal release of Charles R. Rogers 
prodnction. • Stars Joan Bennett, . Joel 
MeCrea; features Henry Armetla, Alison 
Skipworth. Nat Pendelton. Reginald Denny. 
Billy Burrud, Andy Clyde. Directed by 
Alfred E. Green. Story, Louis R. Foster: 
adaptation, Foster, Doris Malloy, Karle 
Snell; camera, Jos. Valentine. At Palace, 
■N. Y. week Oct. 2, '3U on double bill. 
Running time, 80 mlns; 

Julia Wayne Joan Bennett 

Larry Stevens Joel Mi-Crea 

Skeeter Fllsha Cook, Jr. 

Ltllte Alison Skipworth 

Anthony Reginald Denny 

Tsscanl Henry Armetta 

Joneay Andy Clyde 

Flynn Nat Pendleton 

Bennett ." Donald Meek 

Tony INjnellt . . . . , Brndley.Page 

Lawson Girl ., .. .Barlwra. Rogers 

Chet Billy Burrurt 

Purely John Hamilton 

Brock Tyler Brooke 

Ralston Douglas Wood 

Kennedy Mllburn Stone 

Gucrd ...t.. ......Frank Layton- 

Bartender , ....Rohert Murphy 

Taxi Driver.' ....Matt MeHugh 

Policeman lid Gargan 



Old school racketeer thriller with 
a generous handout of kidnapped 
girls, wise-cracking reporters and a 
final ambush with plenty of gunfire. 
Arrives pretty late to mean much. 
No names for marquee pull. 

Martin Mooney penned the story, 
instilling his tale with an overdose 
of front page sensationalism. Idea of 
missing girls gets discarded on the 
way, with an inside peek at prison 
routine and federal . investigation. 
Gangster's hideout serves the pur- 
pose for the noisy shpoting fray. 

Opening reels show why the girls 
leave home, but screen later on only 
permits vafue mention- of what 
happens to them in the big city. One 
in particular "who stays in the story 
turns out to be a housemaid, only to 
get kidnapped eventually. Heroine 
is semi-society girl in love with the 
reporter, whose inside stories, send 
him to jail for 30 days. Politics and 
and crooked dealings among the high 
pressure .boys also come in f or- some 
of the wandering treatment. ... 

While Mooney, one of the co-au- 
thors, did a 30-day stretch for con- 
tempt of court, because he refused 
to disclose the source of his news 
stories ,in the.N. Y. American, this 
yarn is' not autobiographical. 

Roger Pryor, Muriel Evans (now a 
dark blonde) and Sidney Blackmer 
are the principal names. BraU 

Soldaten Kameraden 

- -('Soldier Comrades') 

(GERMAN MADE) 

Zwleker release of Hammer, production. 
Features 'Ralph-Arthur Roberts, Hertl 
Klrehner, -Frunz Nickllsch. Directed ■ by 
Tunr Huppertz. At Garden, N. Y„ week 
Oct. 2, '30 Running time. 1)0 mlnH. 
Balthaaar Winkler. .Ralph-Arthur Roberts 

Hella Herd Klrchner 

Gustav Menke.. » Franz Nlekllsch 

Willy Holzhausen .Franz Zimmerman 

Hauptman Hugo'FJink 

Tlnteroffizler Franz Jan ' Kossak 

Gefreller Adolf Flsi-lier 

Frail Kbeppen Vicky Werlcmelsler 



(In German) 
This is probably the brashest piece 
of propaganda for the Teutonic mili- 
tary machine as yet imported to the 
U. S. for public showing as enter- 
tainment Backgrounds were sup- 
plied by the 48th regiment of Neu- 
strelitz, ano" the ministry of War in 
the Reich (as* the program politely 
puts it) 'genehmigte und unter- 
stuetzte die Hcrstellung.' In simple 
English, this means that the big boys 
in Berlin morally underwrote the 
thing. 

If the patrons can close an eye to 
the propaganda aura of 'Soldier 
Comrades' — and the Teutons natu- 
rally will — it's got something on the 
ball for the flagwavers. Lots of army 
maneuvers. Lots of bright eyed 
young lads marching in goose step. 
Shot after shot of life in the bar- 
racks (this part is very well photo- 
graph c '). In fact, there's so much 
rabble-rousing and foot-stomping 
from end to end. that most of the 
customers probably won't notice that 
the plot is never finished. Two 
fellows are fighting .for the love of a 
damsel at the start, and one of Ihem 
has a spare gal back home. In the 
parting sequence they get medals for 
heroism, which is more important to 
the Ministry of War than the gals. 
By the looks of things, the latter arc 
pretty plentiful around the army 
camps. 

Ralph-Arthur Roberts Is the only 
actor in the whole works who has 



Slovenly scenario and indifferent 
dialog job condemn what might have 
been a bright comedy to the interior 
half of the duals and defeat the ef- 
forts of a number of competent 
players to pull a promising, idea over 
the handicap of .bad writing. 

There is opportunity A-plenty for 
comedy, but much of the laughter 
derives from Andy Cole capering 
around in ' his night shirt or losing 
his pants. Overuse is -made of a 
neighing horse supposed to fit 
into speeches or situations. Funny 
the first three or four times, but 
after that pot so good. ' Now and 
then the director sees a chance to 
breeze a situation along, but in gen- 
eral the script proves a ball and 
chain, with the result that a story 
that might serve in 60 minutes 
dawdles along at full 80. - Writing 
is worse than inexpert; it's clumsy. 

Story hinges on a racing man 
whose last horse is in hock for a - 
feed bill. He finds himself half a 
thousand dollar bill, but Julia 
Wayne, a girl from 'the sticks with 
theatrical ambitions, beats him to the 
other section. - They unite to redeem 
the greenback, which is part of the 
proceeds of a: bank robbery, and 
they, with his jockey and a couple 
of drifters . who' have purchased ' a 
sweepstakes ticket on the nag, all 
camp out in the coal .yard where 
the racer is held hostage for his bill. 
They manage to get the horse in the 
race,, but he lags until he sees the 
coal cart he has been compelled to 
drag around, and he shoots home 
first 

Now and then the bank robber? 
loom briefly as a-, menace, hut add 
nothing to the story', and there is a 
bopb detective who pops- Up npw and 
then, but this and other extraneous 
devices all add up to practically 
nothing at all. under the pall of a 
draggy and amateurish development. 

Joel McCrea, as the sporting man, 
and Elisha Cook, Jr., as the jockey, 
work hardest and often to effect. 
Joan Bennett is the girl with - a part 
too conventional to stand but. Alli- 
son Skipworth is in for a bit as a 
landlady with Reginald Denny, Don- 
ald Meek, Andy Clyde and Henry 
Armetta' called on to head forlorn 
hopes. All have some good spots, 
but the spots are too widely spaced. 
And in between the action is too 
slowly paced to, hold up interest. 

Generally the' basic idea of human 
flotsam in a huddle works into a 
fairly good show, but usually the 
theme is better handled than in this 
instance. Chic. 



LIEBESLEUTE 

('People in Love') 
(GERMAN MADE) 

TnbiH release of lOuropa production. Stars 
Cu.ttav Froelk'br, Renate Mueller.' Directed 
by Krich Wawhneck; music, Prof. Siemens 
KchmnlKtlch. At Casino, N, Y„ week Oct, 
2. "M\, Running* time, p3 mlns. 

Dorothea Htilner. . , , , . , Renate Mueller 

Herman v. Goren .Guslav Froehllch 

F«''h v, (4nr»n.<>.,..,,,..;i>lnrl<>h Schrdlli 

Kaeta v, Oorcn , , . Kvu-Mnrla Meier 

Tan le FrJedu. , , Julia Senla 

V. BHrnxlorff Harry Lledtke 

Hclga, seine Fran (iina Falkenhprjc 

Sfhnaurc. CutHverwalter, . .Gerhard Blenert 

Kn'jop. M:i.si-hlnlHt H. A. Sclileltow 

T)er nlte Rotrhke Klaus Pohl 

Jterr Hlevers » Walter Janssen 

Der Anitamnnn Otto Kronburcer 

Der Portler ....Ojicar Jjiibo 

A modern German picture for a 
change. Story is a rehash treatment 
of Goethe's 'Herman and Dorothea' 
legend, with a tendency to stick' in 
the '90's rather than come up to 
date. Few shots in Berlin, but tale 
leans backward lor the most part, 
with peasantry dominating. Photo- 
graphically the picture is on a par 
with the regulation German import. 
Direction flows^sluggishly at times, 
with a situation developed through 
minute details and ending nowhere. 
It makes just fair entertainment, 



Shorts 



MARCH OF TIME' 
Issue No. Z, Vol. 3 
1Z Mlns. 

RKO-Radio 

Three subjects of a widely diver- 
gent type, two dealing with the 
United States, the other with Eng- 
land, comprise the produced news- 
reel material of the 19th release of 
the March of Time (Issue No. 2. VoL 
3). The same thoroughness, intel- 
ligence and editorial color which 
characterizes the'M. of T. workman- 
ship figures in its latest endeavor to 
consider the football business, Eng- 
land's tithe war and labor's split in 
the American Federation of Labor. 

Except for the matter dealing with 
the rebellion of the English of lower 
classes against the contribution of 
one-tenth of earnings to the Church 
of England, March of Time ap- 
proaches its newest subjects in what 
might be regarded as quite im- 
partially. The reel appears to favor 
the English farmer and laboring ele- 
ment in its wrath against the bounty, 
despite the fact that ■ where the 
church figures anyone is treading on 
delicate ground. England won't care 
much for this clip of March of Time, 
although a new bill put through 
Parliament to assuage the hurt Eng- 
lish countryside has resulted in a 
truce. * 

The ne^ issue leads off with John 
L. Lewis' . campaign for industrial 
unionism and the schism that has 
resulted with Lewis getting the back- 
ing, of 10 large units in the A. F. L. 
against threats to oust these unions, 
which were carried out as the latest 
development in the war. March of 
Time gets considerable from Lewis 
himself and also from William 
Green, president of the AFL. 

Timely and showjnanly Is the foot- 
age dealing with football and the 
business it has become, with sub- 
sidizing of players no longer frowned 
upon by .the leading institutions of 
learning. There are a few shots of 
big games but not identified. The 
clip carries a convincing note in sup- 
port of the growing contention that 
athletic ability should be recognized 
in assignment of scholarships, loam 
and jobs. Char. 

'MR. SMART?"' 

With Andy Clyde 
Farce 
18 Mlns. 
Globe, N. T. 

Columbia 

Andy Clyde in tole of home-loving 
husband who wants to clean house. 
His wife gives him leeway, and comic 
proceeds to do the -work in his own 
way. He wants to put in some extra 
shelving, ..ruins the plaster walls, 
knocks over the- paint bucket and 
makes a mess of the place. Cleaning 
crew also comes in to' assist in the 
wrecking. A vacuum plays havoc 
with .the . feathered-stuffed sot^ 
adding a certain flashy punch. Not 
new, though. 

Slapstick offering, with best re- 
sults coming from Clyde's own home- 
spun antics. Runs too long. Bral.- 



even for steady foreign patronage. 

Film boasts- two popular German 
actors of the moment, which may ' 
mean something. Gustav Froelich, 
who has been seen over here several 
times, and Renate Mueller carry the 
leads. Latter is a petite blonde. Her 
acting is restrained, with face con- 
fined to an inscrutable stare, which 
is good at times, but soon wears. If 
given a chance to relax, she could 
do things. Hovering modernity aura 
is stilted throughout. 

Girl of working class Is suddenly 
pushed into the midst of a well-to- 
do . family of the landed gentry 
6trata. The son falls for her and 
soon it is apparent that they are go- 
ing to click. This draws frowns 
from the uppers, who have other 
plans for Herman. The duo decide 
to exit for the big city, where they 
undergo trials and tribulations tp 
no end. Hunger and room rent are 
a few of the angles dragged in for 
motivation of their sincere devotion. 
Dorothea then returns to the farm, 
engineers a reconciliation and a 
glance at the fields promises a record 
crop. 

Camera work is neat throughout, 
with sweeping views of lanes and 
wheatftelds creating several black 
and white pastorals of striking 
beauty. The Germans are clever at 
this. Intimate shots are also well 
handled. In between are long laosaa. 

Brat 



LA BELLE EQUIPE 

('The Good Crew') 
FRENCH MADE 

Paris, Sept. 22. 

.Wlele d' Edit Ion* efc Location do Films) 
release of Arys Production. Hlars Jean 
<?sl)in. Features Charles Vanel and VI- 
vlane. Romance. Directed 1>y Jullen Tnivl-- 
.vler. Screen play, Charles Vlldrae; dl.Hor, 
Charles Spaak; camera, Kruuer nnd FroB- 
snrd. At La Paris, Running time 1)5 mlns. 

Cast: Jean Gncln. Charles Vanel. TJny- 
niond A Irons, Charles Granvnl, Rnphnel 
Medina, Robert Lynch, Vivian* Riimnnce, 
Chnrpln. Charles DoYnt, Mlclieline Clielrel, 
Raymond Cordy, Jacques Bauiiicr. 



(In Ffenchj 
A simple plot, Wj&nd around ordi- 
nary, everyday JfKW'.vand dislikes, 
measures and hates, forcefully in- 
(Continued on page 31) 



16 



VARIETY 



Wednesday, October 7, 1936 




"Swift, dramatic airplane story with 
plenty of action for thrill-hounds." 

— Film Daily 

"Compares favorably with the best 
aviation stories. ... Geared to a high 
theatric quality . . . will move audi- 
ences to hisses at one point and 
cheers at another."— M. P. Daily 

"An exciting story of commercial 
aviation that goes straight to its mel- 
odramatic goal with pep, punch and 
undeviating straightforwardness." 



— fyllywood Reporter FROM A STORY BY PETER B. KYNE 



ss 




Wednesday, October 7, 1936 



PICT 



E S 



VARIETY 



17 



Advance Production Chart 



.. . " . Hollywood, Oct. 6. 

Despite starting of 10 features last week, production on the Coast re- 
mains slightly below normal with a total of 38 features before the cameras 
While the week registered an exceptionally large number of features 
being tensed, only four were taken, from the cutting rooms and pre- 



viewed. This leaves an unusually large total of 91 in the cutting rooms. 
A total of 76 features are in preparation with more than half this num- 
ber slated to get before the cameras within the month. 



Columbia 



. .TJirfiritf work, 1$ editing, nine preparing. In work: 

THE DEPTHS BELOW/ reported Vaiueiy Sept. 16; and started last week- 
SAFARI IN PARADISE/ produced by Everest Riskin, directed by Alfred 
E. Green, original by Matt Taylor, screen play by Dale Van 'Every Cast- 
Jean Arthur, George Brent, Lionel Stander, Reginald Denny • Ravmond 
WalbdfhVCharlesHolton, Dorothea Kent, Ruth Donnelly. ' ■ ttaymond 
•Story concerts two girls conducting N. Y. business school, • Jean Arthur 
seeks: romance, gives up her part in the ernterprise, lands job as secretary 
to publisher, whom she saves from becoming involved, ■ 
. 'DODGE CITY TRAIL/ produced by Harry I*- Decker, directed by C C 
Coleman. Jr.; original and screen play by Harold Shumate. Cast: Charles 
Starrett, Marian Weldon, Donald Grayson, Russell Hicks, Sy Jenks. 

. Story depicts Starrett as cowboy who plays lone hand rounding up cattle 
thieves. Heroine's father is connected with a gambling ring which directs 
activities., of cattle thieves. Starrett prevails upon him to reform, but 
the gaftg won't let him. 

Pictures scheduled to start this week list INTERLUDE/ Grace Moore 
picture, and 'LADY OF NEW YORK/ Others to follow on Oct. 10 are 
•WOMEN OF GLAMOUR,' produced by Everett Riskin, Gordon Wiles 
directing, and 'A SLUG FOR CLEOPATRA/ produced by Ralph Conn. 
VL PROMISE TO PAY' *will, start Oct. 12, Howard J. Green producing; 
•COLLEGE. HERO', to start Oct. 19, Edward Chodorov producing, - and 
•COUNTERFEIT LADY/ by Ralph Cdhn, will also start the same day. 

Metro 



Six in work, eight editing, 10 preparing, In, work: ' 
•BORN TO, 'DANCE/ reported Vaiuett : July . 22; 'CAMILLE/ reported 

Aug. 18> 'M.AYTIME/ reported Sept. 2; 'A DAY AT. THE RACES/ re 

ported:. Sept "16, Started last week are: 
•AFTE& THE THIN' MAN/ produced by Hunt- Stromberg, directed by 

W.: S^Van : t)yke, original by DashieU Hammett, screen play by Frances 

Goodrich and Albert Hackett. ' Cast: William Powell, Myrha Loy, Elissa 

Lahou>> James Stewart, ' ' 

. Story is. sequel, to "THIN MAN/ which brings the couple back to San 
Francisco from New York', where the original picture left off, Upon re- 
turn to their Knob Hill home in Frisco much happens before he can un- 
pack his clothes, including a murder mystery that involves his own home. 

'CAPTAINS COURAGEOUS/ produced by Louis D. L'ighton, directed by 
Victor. Flemiirg,". play adapted by Marc Connelly from Rudyard Kipling 
stdjjyy' ' 'Cast: Freddie Bartholomew, • Spencer Tracy, Lionel Barrymore, 
Mickey Rooney, Charles Grapewin, Billy Burrud, Walter Kingsford, Don- 
ald Brings, Sani McDaniels, Dave Thursby,' John Carradine, William Stack, 
Leo (Sa'rroll, Jonathan Hale, Jay Ward, Kenneth Wilson,' * 

Story depicts Freddie Bartholomew as pampered boy of rich American 
family. After various escapades, parents believe change of climate will do 
him good, so sail to England. While on the seas, boy is washed overboard 
and is picked up by. a tramp schooner. Captain of the ship takes him into 
hand, -and by strict discipline regenerates the lad. 



Paramount 



Three- in work, 12 editing, eight preparing. In work: 

•MAID OF SALEM/ reported Variety Sept. 2, 'COLLEGE HOLIDAY/ 
reported Sept. 23, and 'ARIZONA MAHONEY/ reported Sept. 30. No new- 
pictures started last week. 

Readied to go into work next are: 'ONE MAN'S BONUS/ INTERNES 
CANT* TAKE MONEY/ 'OUR MISS KEANE/ 'MORNING, NOON AND 
NIGHT,' 'FIRST ROMANCE' and 'BETTING FEVER.' 



RKO-Radio 



Five in work, 10 editing, eight preparing. In work: 

'ALL SCARLET/ 'NIGHT WAITRESS' and 'RIDDLE OF THE DAN- 
GLING PEARLS/ all reported Variety Sept. 23; UNTITLED LILY PONS 
picture reported Sept. 30 and started last week. 

'QUALITY STREET/ produced by Pandro Berman, George Stevens <Ji* 
recting, adapted from James M. Barrie's stage play by Allen Scott.- Cast: 
Katharine Hepburn, Frarichot Tone, Eric Blore, Fay Bainter, Florence 
Lak$s : : Estelle Winwood, Helena Grant,' Cora Withersppon, Bonita Gran- 
vilie,^Glifford Severn, Sherwood Bailey. 

Story is . costume romantic drama laid in England during the Napoleonic 
war. Tone plays the carefree blade who shuns the affections of Hepburn 



previous to being called to war. While in service, he is brought '.o realize 
he really loves the girl and upon his return sets out to declare this love, 
but is met with opposition by the coy Hepburn, who forces him into em- 
barrassing and sacrificing situations before she will consent. 

Being readied to start next: 'THE MAN WHO FOUND HIMSELF/ to be 
produced by Lou Lusty; 'MOTHER CAREY'S CHICKENS/ Edward Small 
producing and Dorothy Arzner directing; 'OUTCASTS OF POKER FLATS," 
Robert Sisk producing and Christy Cabanne directing; 'CRIMINAL LAW- 
YER/ THEY WANTED TO MARRY/ 'COAST GUARD/ 'WE THE JURY' 
and 'PARK AVENUE LODGER.' 



Republic 

Three in work, 11 editing, eight preparing. In work: 
•UNTITLED. ALL COLOR FEATURE' and 'THE COUNTRY GENTLE- 
MAN/ reported Sept. 23. Started last week: 

.THE, BIG SHOW/ produced by' Armand Schaefer, directed by Mack 
Wright original story, and screen play by Stewart and Dorrell McGowan 
Cast: Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, Kay Hughes, Christine Maple, Sally 
Payne, Grace Durkin, Frances Morris, Helen- Servis, . Morris Carpenter 
and Beverly Hill Billies, Light Crust Doughboys* Sons of the* Pioneers, 
and the Jones Boys colored trio. •-'. -- — . ■; , 

Story, backgrounded against Texas Centennial exposition, has iAiitry 
organizing bunch of cowboys to stage a' show for. then: benefit. It turns out 
to be the biggest attraction at the exposition. Most of action filmed .in 
Dallas. ' • . • . ' :•• 

Readied to start next list THE CHINESE. ORANGE MYSTERY/ /TWO 
YEARS BEFORE THE MAST' and •RIDERS OF THE WHISTLIN' SKULL.' 



20tb-Fox 



• Eight in work, four editing, 10 preparing, 'In .work;'.! i^-"' 

'REUNION' and 'LLOYDS OF LONDON/ reported '.Vabuot ' Aug. 19; 
THE WHITE HUNTER," reported Sept;'- 9r';'C ( A*EER-.. WOMAN' and 
'CHARLIE. CHAN AT THE OPERA/ reported . Sept, 23; 'ONE JN^.- MIL- 
LION' and 'STOWAWAY/ reported Sept. 30,.'s^rted'last\week^an;d ;'BANJO 
01* MY KNEE/ associate producer^.'N.unnally , Johnson; wfco -alstf adapted, 
from novel by . Harry Hamilton. Directed by John . Cromwell, songs; 
by Jimmy McHugh and Harold Adamson.- Cast: Barbara Stanwyck, . Joel 
McCrea, Walter Brennan, Katharine DeMille,' Buddy Ebsett, Helen West- 
ley, Tony Martin,- Walter Catlett, George Humbert, Minna Gombell, Mar- 
garet Hamilton, Spencer. Charters, Cecil Weston, Louis Mason. 
' . Story centered around lives of Mississippi river shanty boaters. Joel 
McCrea, born and raised on the river, marries Barbara Stanwyck, a land 
girl. Difference in their mode of living brings about a. misunderstanding. 
McCrea-gels into a fight and believes he has, killed his opponent. In making 
his getaway* he, lands in a big city, where he gets a new slant .on .life.1 
With the love of his wife still haunting him he returns to histoid home to 
learn he is not a murderer. -„ " 

Readied to start- are. .'CRACK-UP/ Sam Engel proddctftg: and Mai St. 
Clair directing' 'LIVING DANGEROUSLY/ Kenneth. ; Macgowan produc- 
ing; 'ON .THE AVENUE/ Gene Markey producing,«ari&; THE LAST 
SLAVER/ to be produced by Darryl Zanuck; ' 



United Artists 



Two in work, two editing, Ave preparing.- In work: 
XOVE UNDER FIRE/ reported Variety Sept. 9, and «WE LIVE ONLY 
ONCE/ which started last week;. first of series of seven features- to be pr<K 
duced by Walter Wanger for UA, directed by Fritz Lang from .original and 
screen play by Gene Towne and Graham Baker. Cast: Sylvia Sidney, 
Henry Fonda, Barton MacLane, Jean Dixon, William Gargan, John Wray, 

Ward Bond. .' ' ' ' J, „ j 

Story woven around dramatic love theme between Sidney and Fonda. 
Latter, released from prison through influence of Miss Sidney, tries to go 
straight, .but finds himself handicapped by the law. Convicted on cir- 
cumstantial evidence and returned to prison, in rebellion to the injus- 
tice, he stages a prison break in which he kills a guard. With the aid of 
the girl who has stood by him during all this trouble, they are about to 
cross the 'border to Mexico only to be trapped and shot down by G 

m R n eadied to start next list: Wanger's 'HISTORY IS MADE AT NIGHT'; 
Selznick-International, while editing 'GARDEN OF ALLAH/ casting for 
'ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER.' In addition to this, S-I also putting 

(Continued on page 21) 



Reels' Annual 
Headache, Grid 
Coverage, Here 



The annual fall headache for the 
hewsreels. starts in earnest this week- 
end. It is. coverage of college foot- 
ball games. It never has been 
relished by newsreel executives be- 
cause it represents 'an outlay . of 
$10;000 to' $15,000 for each company 
every year, with small return to 
compensate for this expenditure. 

But the - habit of exhibitors de- 
manding that local gridiron contests 
be handled' by the -news weeklies 
keeps the camera > boys jumping 
every Saturday! Average newsreel 
company requests- that key city ex- 
change managers submit a list of 
games to be covered, with each key 
spot permitted to put three or four 
contests in the reels. 

With the bulk of these localized 
affairs, prints go out only to exhibi- 
tors in the region reached by each 
particular exchange. This keeps 
gross revenue from these football 
clips down to a minimum. It means 
only .about one out of four football 
battles covered ever get into the 
national edition of the newsreel. On 
moist games, the local contest reaches 
only.-'tl^ree to six principal cities. 

further factor that reduces the 
amount of revenue as compared with 
the expense incurred is that nearly 
alKgridiroQ. clips are. for U: S. ex- 
hibition solely. Few football contest* 
are included in feels sent to foreign 
countries. . <, 

Only break that the newsreels 
have been obtaining in recent years 
is the/ efficiency in coverage. For- 
merly, the camera grinders required 
2,000 feet of negative in order to 
supply 100 feet of action shots in - 
the newsreel issues. Now, the crack 
lens boys shoot only 800 to 1,000 fe*fc 
for each 100 feet of negative used 
in the finished newsreel. 



PRODUCTION TABLE 



(Shozvs number of pictures promised by the various major producing companies for the 1936-37 program and number of pic- 
tures yet to be produced for the 1935-36 program.) 

No. of pix Total 

promised - Balance to be Number Pictures 

Producers and for (or delivered completed Pictures now in Balance yet Total plx 

contributing 1936-37 . 1935-36 by Auk. (or new . now in cutting: to go before in prep- 

' companies. season. program. 1, 1937. season. work. roams. cameras. aration. 

COLUMBIA " 50 Z- 7~5Z 7 3 115 34 ~ 

Larry Darmour '. . '8 '.. 8 1 1 6 ., 

METRO 48 .. 48 .. 6 8 34 ... 

Hal Roach 4 .. 4 4 

PARAMOUNT 48 .. 48 9 2 9 28 

B. P. Schnlberg 8 .. 8 1 7 

Emanuel Cohen.. ? •• 8 1 ? 

R, A. Rowland 2 .. 2 1 1 

Harry- Sherman 6 .. 6 1 5 

Frank Lloyd 1 .. 1 l 

RKO-RADIO 39 6 45 .. 5 10 30 

David Loew.... 2 .. 2 .. 2 

Geo. Hirliman 6 ». 6 1 5 . 

_ Sol Lesser. 3 3 .. 3 .. 

REPUBLIC 56 5 " 01 .. i 10 48 

„ A. W. Hackel 1G , 1« 1 J5 

20TH-FOX 63 .. 0$ 18 .8 4 33 

Sol Lesser ; 6 6 1 .. 5 

UNITED ARTISTS 

Sam Goldwyn. 7 1 * 1 1 4 

Walter Wanger..... 7 .. 7 .. 1 .. 6 

Selznick International 5 .. 5 .. .. 1 '4 

Pickf ord-Lasky 1 1 1 

Reliance 1 .. 1 1 

Elisabeth Bcrgncr 1 1 .. .. 1 

Criterion Films 2 .. 2 ... .. .. 2 

_,„^Korda London B .. « 6 

UNIVERSAL i 44 3 47 1 13 33 

te Buck Jones 8 « • 1 ' 

WARNERS j-.', 60 u . - 60 22 7 14 17 

TOTALS 516 16 532 57 . 38 91 346 >x 77 



Par-s Spanish Inside 



> ' , .Bayonne, France, Oct. 6. 

Arthur Menken, Paramount news- 
reel camera ; .grinder, accompanying 
General ' Francisco Franco's rebel 
force's into Toleido; secured an excel- 
lent story - showing privations suf- 
fered 'by, : those held at Alcazar in a 
two-moriitli';siege. That's the report 
received here. Even hardened kroopr 
ers with Franco's army were amazed 
at the physical condition of many in- 
habitants who had been isolated for 
more than 45 days. 

Information received here is that 
a new Par cameraman, subbing for 
John Dored, held by rebels until re- 
cently, photographed the actual dy- 
namiting of the Alcazar fortress. 
Dored's release was obtained largely 
through the intervention and strenu- 
ous efforts of Menken, who was able 
to plead his case direct, to General 
Franco. , 



Ciannelli 2-Chored 

Hollywood, Oct. 6. 
Eduardo Ciannelli, who recently 
washed up job in 'Winterset' at RKO, 
will go into 'Criminal Lawyer,' Lee 
Tracy starrer at the studio. Erik 
Rhodes and Frank M. Thomas also 
set in the cast. 

Ciannelli had intended returning 
to Broadway for a play. 



CONROW'S TFPPED ERPI POST 

L. W. Conrow; general manager 
for Electrical* Research Products' 
eastern division, has been named 
"oneral operating manager. He will 
report to Whltford Drake, execu- 
tive v. p. 

Canrow will be in charge of all 
service and installations oa:;t of the 
Rockies. This is to include head- 
quarters' operating, department divi- 
sions. In addition, he will be in 
charge of the merchandise depart- 
ment. 

Stanley W. Hand, whi has been 
In charge of all ERPI midwest work, 
is now assistant general salos man- 
ager. His headquarters will be in 
N. Y. and Chicago. 



Lansrycl's 'An£el' for Detroit 
Rights have been cleared to a play 
\yj MxTchior Lcngycl l-pown as 'An- 
".<zY which will ba E-nst Lubitsch's 
first starring Maiiene Dietrich under 
rcw Paramount contract. He 
and Samson Raphacl.son have been 
in Nov/ York for more thnn a week 
vv irking on the story pending n©« 
jjotiations to clear it. 

They will remain east two or three 
weeks longer. 



18 



VARIETY 



Wednesday, October 7, 1936 




ClinW the great wagon-train trek through the un- 
UllUff ^,3^ wilderness — Westward to Ken- 
tucky! . . . Fearless men and dauj^ess women, 
carving a road to glory . . . J[gJ|Ml side by side 
through storm and flooiy^Siien death! 

a tromier viage hewn from the virgin forests 
* stockade built by the blood and sweat 
of stalwart heroes who knew no fear! 



/ ; '-I' ■ 




SHOW B °° ne ca P ,ured b y the warrk, 9 redskins. .His 
spectacular escape from the searing flames 
of the torture fire! 

SHOW * he stockade under siege! - - • Thousands 
uiiUffl of ye ,| ing savages^ridjng devils -shoot- 
ing flaming death against the thinning band who 
r fought an epic battle for home and country! 

SHOW the end ° f the crimson Siege, with a small 
UIIVff boy hero paying the price of a renegade's 
treachery! 



with 



JOHN C ARRADINE • RALPH FORBES •CLARENCE MUSE 



0 UQ1V a red-painted paleface brought to terrific 
uiiuii Justicej in one of t||e most t(|riHjnfl han ^ 

to-hand fights you've ever had on your screen! 

★ 

A George A. Hirliman Production . , Directed by David Howard 
Associate Producer Leonard Goldstein.. Screen play by Daniel Jarrett 
Story by Edgecumb Pinchon . . R K 0 RADIO PICTURE 



Wednesday, October 7; 1936 



PICTURES 



VARIETY 



19 



EXPLOITATION 



* 



By Epes W. Sargent 



Down in St. loo 

. ' ' St. Louis. . 

Thrte^outetanding campaigns for 

• gt; ■LooiS 'fiffls week.- Top honors go • 

• SJ) Hafry/Keiidrick Missouri The- 
atre for a sock merchandising plan 
that got Jiim into the public and pri- 
vate school rooms with special stu- 
dent tickets for 'Dream' and pulled 
•regular Friday opening of. house to 
large' gross. With assistance of -Supt. 
of Schools,- JEendrick was given com- 
'plete passage to classes and sent 
through campaign which • included 
heralds, bulletins and special the- 
atre parties. All in all pix was 
really sold to spots where it should 1 
bring returns. ' -r ■ 

Battling for second honors were 

• Ambassador with its first week of pit 
band shows and Fox where 'Mag- 
nificent Brute' got the benefit of a 
free fashion" pix run on a tie-up with 
Scruggs, -Vandervoort & Barney, 
swanky downtown dept. store that 
rarely ties up with any theatre. Am- 
bassador under direction of Mgr. 
Bob Hicks placed ads in every pub- 
lication within radius of 50 miles of 
town, taking in so called *49th State' 
area, getting stories and free stuff 
on a pass-exchange basis. Also cut 
in on radio' commercials 'through 
hookup with home office of Lucky 
Strike whose Hit Parade songs are 
a feature of new band policy at this 
house. Town loaded with smart win- 
dow cards and general material on 
stage shows. - . 

Fox with Bill Raynor and asst. 
Francis Curley landed Fashion reel 

• that brought full page ad in aon. rag 
and underlines all week in dept. 
store space. All house-to-space 
break in 40,000 giveaways and com- 
plete. 10,00ft mailing list of store. 
Also had models in lobby of theatre 
and special outdoor boards with 
extra help of 10,000 special fashion 
booklets given to femmes by store. 
All material carried credit to pic. 
'Magnificent Brute,' and displayed 
theatre name liberally. Co-op ads 
with (If> and some additional help 
from Exploiteer Vincent gave house 
sound campaign. 

. Phone Raffles 

Something different from the usual 
Raffles., gag is the telephone Baffles, 
which $s worked wholly On the tele- 
phone. The idea was simply that a 
. Mr. X could:be located by telsphone 
and the first person to call up pot 
$25. ' Emphasis was given to the 
statement that no trick number was 
being used. It could be found in the 
book, though not under that name. 

A newspaper was enlisted to push 
the idea along and some of the pop- 

• ulace was worked up to fever heat 
t. 'ing to guess the right number. 
The town had a metered service, so 
there was not r.iuch of a ;kick from 
the telephone company, though per- 
haps nl'nty.from people who w. - e 
called to- the tmone to be asked Are 
you Mr. X, the secretary to Dracula 
now showing at the Plaython?' 

With only five days in which to 
hunt the town was Slowly going 
mad about it when on the last two a 
man called up a flour and feed r.bre 
and as a fag preparatory to giving 
the- order he contemplated- playfully 
used the greeting. He almost dropped 
the phone when the store reolied, 
Sure. Give your name and address 
and a check will be sent.' . That gave 
a '"»odiJ&tory frr the paper'- wind- 
up, and" assured the community the 
stunt had been on the level — which 
it had begun to doubt. 

A better way, perhaps, would be 
to require the questers to put their 
question on a. postal card addressed 
to the suspect. This will prove less 
annoyin.1 to the recipients and per- 
haDS giywn oven wider publicity since 
the cards .cost only a penny as 
against a. Jive-cent telephone toll. 

The street Raffles has been over- 
Worked, but here's a new way to 
use it,-. . 



Gone to the Dog 

T The Hague. 

in order to boost premiere of MG 
reel Toush Guy' in which the dog 
ttin Tin Tin, Jr., plays a^prominent 
Part, Amsterdam had the scoop of 
an exhibition of dogs competing for 
pr ' z es offered by various firms. 

Exhibition arranged under auspices 
or Metro-Goldwyn Holland office in 
vondel Park of that city! ' Instead 
or expected 500 competitors, there 
were over 1,000. Whole stunt cre- 
ated such a crowd that police had 
„°. send reinforcements to establish 
order in the park. 

House Organ 

Latest, house organ to be reported 
comes from Frank K. Shaffer of the 
wamer Virginia, Harrisonburg, Va. 
«s a four-page monthly, self-sup- 
porting through merchant ads, and 
is distributed folded into the local 
Sunday paper (which prints this 
sheet), and through distribution to 
schools. 

Well edited and carries enough 
general matter to be more than a 
straight house plug, so it should go 
w weekly issue presently. 



Lobby Scenery 

At least 1 one theatre, has a scene 
dock lor its lobby just as the usual 
-stage has v dock for its regular sets. 
It was not all laid out at> once, but 
is the . gradual growth of various 
ideas. The idea is so useful that it is 
strange that it has not been widely 
adapted, particularly since it repre- 
sents a very material saving in build- 
ing material and costs. 

The lobby in question is about 18 
feet deep with a 22-foot opening. 
It is cut by three sets of doors; one 
for entrance and two for exit. Nor- 
mally the doors are finished in ma- 
hogany over a metal base. The first 
setting was made from paper pat- 
terns with flats for the wall spaces, 
panels for each door and transoms to 
fit above the entrances. . All flats are 
held in place by the use of screw 
eyes into which pins on the back of 
the flats fit. When in place the en- 
tire lobby walls are covered with 
a falsework, which' can be set into 
place* in less than 20 minutes. The 
pins are three inches long and are 
fitted into the screw eyes by being 
lifted and dropped into place. A 
valance, corresponding to the bor- 
der drop in'the stage outfit, hides the 
top. 

The first set was painted to repre- 
sent a circus entrance. Later other 
compoboard duplicates were made, 
each with a special purpose in mind. 
One is a palace, another a tropical 
exterior, a third is a snow scene, and 
others represent a garden, a sea- 
shore, a deep forest and a public 
square in a large- town. - There is an- 
other set which can be repainted to 
meet immediate needs/ out the oth- 
ers are kept in the dock and- each 
has been used from three to ten 
times, always with slight alterations. 
Sets are used only on special pic- 
tures, at other times the lobby- hav* 
ing a more conventional dress, but 
the lobby Is a real seller for this 
theatre because it is always interest- 
ing and attractive. 



Street Work 

Sending out curiously dressed peo- 
ple to advertise" an attraction is 
standard stuff, but even the conven- 
tional pram can be jazzed up a lit- 
tle. Years ago a flashily dressed 
woman paraded Kansas City streets 
with no identifying material. But 
right behind was a man giving out 
throwaways telling the character she 
was assuming and " the feature in 
which she appeared. Made more of 
a stir than if she had carried the 
, usual back sign. 

Another woman, this time rather 
Mae Westish, swished, along the main 
streets of another town, now and then 
handing out cards -which read: 'Go 
to the lobby of the Carson theatre 
and see if the number on this card 
is repeated in the lobby. If it is 
you will be given a ticket to see me 
tonight in 'Klondike Annie.' I'll be 
seeing you.' In the lobby- were 50 
numbers, selected in advance. .About 
5,000 cards were handed out. Those 
who -received no cards got the idea 
frpm those w,ho did. 

A somewhat similar card stunt was 
work«»d in a smaller town by a man 
who handed out half cards which 
read that if the possessor could find 
the holder of the other half, both 
could see the show free that evening. 
Here the cards were numbered on 
both ends and printed in duplicate. 
No two halves were handed out at 
once, the torn halves being presented 
in some other spot, but with only a 
limited number given out. The street 
was packed with card-matchers and 
the gag. was good for a column in 
each of two oaDers. 

Any old stunt can be made new 
with a little thinking. 



One in 1,000 

Lincoln. 

Jay Clarke, mentalist at the Lin- 
coln here, got mixed up in the op- 
position Varsity's publicity gag this 
week for a general laugh all around. 
Clarke holds hands and tells for- 
tunes with the gals between shows 
on the mez of the Lincoln and one 
day a woman, wringing her hands 
and very nervous, came to him with 
an entreaty for him to tell her 
whether her husband was unfaith- 
ful. She said she had received an 
anonymous letter and handed it to 
Clarke. It read: 

'I dare you to take your husband 
to see Craig's wife.' City Manager 
Milt Overman had sent out 1,000 as 
a stunt on the Columbia Him. 



School Stuff 

Greenville, S. C. 

A refreshing note in exploitation 
is seen here each year with the open- 
ing of the rah-rah institutions. Dick 
Lashley, Carolina, sends 1 out neatly 
printed formal invitations enclosing 
one admlsh pasteboard'to every new 
stude and prof entering the two local 
sheepskin emporiums. 

Goodwill thus created gives Lash- 
ley's Carolina steady four-year take 
.of stude's money-from-home. 



A Credo 

Joseph Bernhard, g/m. of Warner 
Bros, theatres, is sending to all houses 
a neat card intended for the service 
staff. Makes a clear statement that 
well might be copied by others. 
Headed with a bold 'The Public Is 
the Judge,' the copy reads*. 

'To thousands of patrons you are 
the company. It they like you, they 
praise the company. If they dislike 
you they blame Warner Bros. 

'Your actions determine the public 
reaction to this company. 

'If you are' courteous in every- per- 
sonal contact, self controlled even 
when angry or resentful . . . 

'If you are gentle with the very 
young . . ; deferential to the old, 
friendly without being officious . . . 

.'If .you remember at all times . . . 
in hearing every complaint ... in 
dealing with every patron that the 
slogan of Warner Bros, is: 
"The Public Be Pleased! 
'Then you are in step with our 
ideals and policies. To serve our 
patrons successfully is to win suc- 
cess for this company. 
'The Public Be Pleased.' 
It's good dope to be tacked up in 
any theatre. 



Mickey's Birthday 

Rochester. 

Loew's Rochester, 3,600-seater, 
packed in the kids and turned away 
nearly 800 in first Saturday morning 
show of season. 

Called Mickey Mouse Birthday 
Party, Manager Lester Pollock 
showed nine cartoon films at 25 
cents. Picture coloring contest in 
the Journal, with Donald Duck dolls 
as prizes helped to put the show 
across. 



Swinging on 'Time' 

Shea theatre, Bradford, Pa., hooked 
the national Packard contest to the 
local dealer, getting ads in three local 
papers and a distribution of 3,000 
rotos for which the dealer paid. 

Full page ad in a local shopping 
sheet cost only 10 tickets given to 
those who found their names scat- 
tered through the paper-. Single guest 
ticket permitted a horn-in on a mer- 
chants exposition current the 'week 
ahead or- the- showing. 

Usual newspaper hook-ups, a sound 
truck and nice lobby display. All 
staged by Jack Hynes. 



BEHIND the KEYS 



Canton, O. 

Price Critchfleld Amusement Com- 
pany planning to build a new the- 
atre at London, O. 

Louis Frisch, who owns the Palace 
theatre at Hubbard, is reported hav- 
ing drawn,' plans for a new movie 
theatre to go up . on a Site directly 
opposite his present' theatre there. 

Meigs Theatre Co. has purchased 
the Masonic theatre building at Mid- 
dleport, and will revamp it for a film 
house-. 

- £. E. Bair has taken over the Ritz 
at New Comerstown. 
' Pete Wprthington now manager of 
the Bluff tori theatre at Bluffton.' 

Paul Rader has announced he is 
building a new movie house at New- 
ark. 

Recent theatre ownership changes 
in this area include Macks (formerly 
Pastime) at Addyston to Virgil Mc- 
Gaha by Roy Hay; Cove (formerly 
Favorite), at Covington, transferred 
to. Ruby F. Lee by Herman Bayer; 
Ritz, New Comerstown, transferred 
to E. Blair at Ortt Bros.; Lyric, at 
Tiffin, transferred to Fred Sommers. 

Providence, 

Less than five weeks after he tools 
over the helm at the Albee theatre, 
now the sole RKO unit in this citv 
Clem Pope has quit as manager at 
that stand, and has returned, to De- 
troit, where he plans to take over a 
theatre' in that ciy. Pope has been 
replaced in Providence by William 
Brown, a native product, but who has 
spent little time here. This is the 
third change in managership at the 
Albee this year. 

St. .Paul. 

Local show map considerably 
changed, with George Aurelius mov- 
ing from Iood Tower management 
into RKO as Lpu Golderi's aide, Ray 
Langfitt skipping across the street 
from the Riviera to take George's 
old job at the Tower,- Howell Kadrie 
moving from the Riv to assist Walt 
Van Camp at the Paramount, and 
John Reed and Foster Shell (latter 
Golden's erstwhile man Friday) 
holding down the two top jobs at tho 
Riv. 

Detroit. 

Two 1,800-seat theatres are being 
built in suburban Dearborn at cost 
of $150,000 each. Both- will be 
finished around first of year. 

Joseph Stoia and Joseph Miskinis, 
owners of the Midway and Alden 
houses in Dearborn, are erecting the 
Circle. Associated Theatres. Inc.. 
operator of eleven houses in Detroit 
and Michi&an, is building the Con- 
gress. 

Santa Barbara, 
Ed Smith, for many years a Par- 
amount-Publix manager, replaces' 
Louis .B. Christ as manager of Fox- 
West Coast's Arlington. Christ be- 
comes district manager for Arizona 
for the circuit. 

Fox-West Coast has reopened the 
Granada in Ontario with J. W. An- 
derson as manager. 

Birmingham, 
Frank Dudley, manager of the Tiv- 
oli, made manager of the Strand, suc- 
ceeding Olan Fikes, who has been 
transferred to the Rialto. , Chatta- 
nooga. Allsworth Dye, Jr., now 
manager of the Tivoli. 

Butte. 

Fox- West Coast .is renovating the 
Rialto theatre at a cost of $10,000. 
R. Hi McCullough, in charge of F-WC 
maintenance, is here from Los An- 
geles supervising work. 



, . Lincoln.. 
. City Manager Jerry Zigmond, of 
the Lincoln Theatre Corp.,- back from 
Yom Kippuring in Denver with 
Division Manager L. J. Finske, of the 
J. H. Cooper Enterprises. 

So great a success was the recent 
personal appearance Of June Lang 
at' the 80th Anniversary celebration, 
Columbus, Neb„ her picture, 'Road 
to Glory,' is still being held by Man- 
ager Irving Heller, at the.Columbus, 
' C. C. Thuernagle, Fairmont, Neb., 
shuttered the Fairmont 

O. E. Ansberry, who- was-the owner 
of the 20Qrseat Isis, Mason City, has 
sold it to Marion H. Bray. 

Model, in Bancroft, Neb., has 
opened completely remodeled, 

. ' Hartford. 

Lew Cohen named manager of the 
Palace, operating on a . split-time 
schedule with the WPA project. Mov> 
ing pictures will be operated two 
weeks and the WPA project, with 
stage plays on alternate two wesks 
schedule. 

Jack Simons, manager of the Poli, 
returned from a vacation : . in Cleve 
land, Ohio. 

San Francisco. 
Arch M. Bowles, division manager 
for Fox-West Coast here, now has 
three first rUn houses amder - his su 
pervision in San Jose since his cir- 
cuit .took over operation of Padre. 
Besides the Padre, ohain has Cali- 
fornia and the Mission. W. L. Glea- 
son, president of the Padre Company, 
f<?rmer. owners of the Padre, has 
moved to Southern California fol- 
lowing acquisition of house by 
Bowles. • 



Pittsburgh. 
Joe R. Kauffman, for last' six 
years a salesman for U here servic- 
ing the West Virginia territory, has 
just been named manager of the 
Pittsburgh office. He succeeds Al 
Barnett. who died 10 days ago of a 
blood stream infection. 



• Spartanburg. S. C. 

New Ritz, Newberry, 30 . miles 
south of here, nearing completion. 
Construction has been under way a 
year. „. 

Fred Reid of State, head of new 
theatrical -organization of Wilby- 
Kincey ch? in staffs; h?re to promote 
nvofessional, civic and social inter- 
ests. 



Co-operation 

Much more can be done with the • 
newspapers if the managers make it 
a two-way co-operation instead of 
always being on the gimme end. For 
example, a newspaper- recently es- 
tablished, started a fresh air fund as 
a Circulation scheme. It languished 
until a local theatre offered a free 
ticket to all who subscribed $1 or 
more. The fund went over the top 
in no time at all. Most of the tick- 
ets issued were accompanied by paid 
admissions, and the house loss was 
small. Now that theatre can get 
almost anything from the newspaper 
for saving its face on its first stunt. ' 

In another town a paper planned a 
benefit for a popular cause, expecting . 
to get the free use of the city audi- 
torium. But the local heads remem- 
bered the last political campaign, in 
Which the paper had been an anti, 
and the promoters were without a 
home until the largest of the local 
houses canceled an off-day. and gave 
the house to the benefit. Even the 
party in power felt that the city hall 
ring had been too hard on the paper, 
and ' the action of the theatre was 
highly approved. The house might 
have taken in $800 on the -night it,, 
did not show. It got 50 times that 
much in advertising, not to count in 
the goodwill. 

In a third spot a theatre had a 
phonograph on a truck, which it used 
ior local advertising. A newspaper 
started a circulation drive and the 
house -gave the sheet the use of the 
truck for a week to cover the near- 
by towns; That fall an anti-noise or- 
dinance was introduced in the coun- 
cil. It was. indirectly aimed at the 
sound truck; But the. paper quashed 
the ordinance, which more than re- 
paid: the loan of the truck. It pays 
to play, with the newspapers and not 
just use them. 

lectures 

Metro is preparing to pave the 
way for 'Romeo and Juliet' with lec- 
tures to local organizations, just f.s 
was done for 'Midsummer Night's 
Dream'' by Warners. The idea has 
also been employed for dramatic 
shows,; but it seems to be forgotten 
that .about 15 years ago the same 
.gag was used on films in general 
by a western Paramount salesman. 
He worked it mostly on the small 
towns, but it can be made to fit any- 
where. 

The salesman was Julius J. Hess, 
working out of Los Angeles, and in 
spots where he had sold the Par- 
amount product he offered to give a 
lecture, generally on a Sunday, if 
there was no show, or at some, morti- 
inf" function where there was. 

He had a spiel that took the lis- 
tener through the entire process of- 
film making from the purchase of 
the .script through its develonment, 
production- and shipping and then 
branched into a chat on the pro- 
grams at the theatre for the next 
three months. He did not go over- 
board on praise, just talking inr chatty 
fashion abo.ut the product to be used 
and the top stories. As a by-product 
he had a summary of the lecture for 
the use of the local news men fn 
preparing. thei r stories, and it was 
the; sort of stuff the newspaper, men 
co"ld and did use. 
' For some reason the idea did rot 
sDread. but there is no reason w-iy 
it should not be revived, particularly 
if slides' showing the studios end 
■siills from the new pictures ^an be 
obtain-*!. It's just another ; of those 
Ood- ideas which somehow got over- 
looked. 

Use it to start off the new sea- 
son. You'll find someone who can 
talk. 



New Orleans. 

L, M. Ash. until recently operator 
and manager of the Liberty theatre, 
took over the management of the re- 
cently remodeled Strand theatre folf 
lowing the resignation of Manager 
H;irry McLeod. 

Vic Maurin,' for several years a" 
booker at the Rsoublio office here, 
is now managing the Fox theatre at 
Houma, La. . 



• Charlotte. N. C. 

R. H. Rogers theatre building at 
Shelby has been leased to. W. H. 
Webb, who. already, operates the 
Wobb there. 

W. M. Burney will build at Colum- 
bia. ' " • 

Colonial, Florence, open. 



Whittier, Cal. 
Bruen Theatres. Inc., has taken 
over Wardman and Scenic houses 
from the Whittier Amusement Co. 



Albany. 

Palace theatre (Fabian) joined the 
Harmanus Bleecker Hall, under the 
same management, as a double fea- 
ture house beginning THursday (1), 
leaving the Strand (WB) the only 
single feature theatre in Albany, - 



Tagged to News 

• When the news stories of the pos- 
sibility of th'« marriatre of Buddy 
Rogers and Mary Plckford broke 
lately, Hcrry Brown. Jr., of the Par- 
amount. NewDort. R. I., clipped the 
story from the Boston papers and 
made these the basis for a special 
one sheet for the lobby, hookhy. to 
Rogers appearance in 'Old Man 
Rhythm' a fev/"days later. Chief at- 
tractor was a hu?e oucstion mark. 

Alon<» the fame lines he hooked 
'Easv Money' to. a «»ame with a simi- 
lar title, which got him a big display 
in a store window, - including 20 stills. 

• On his pony contest he is giving . 
extras votes to the contestants who 
bring in their friends at the matinee, 
at which the' votes are issued. Helps 
.to get in more kids. And he is bol- 
stering Wednesday biz lay giving 10 
cnumjis on his giveaway to those 
who come that off nisht. Costs noth- 
ing and builds attendance. 

'Hats Off' Train 
As a -nation-wide- stunt for 'Hats 
Off,' Boris Petroff-Grand National 
release, " a novelty train has been 
bought for J>10,000 to visit key cities 
on bally. Train plays an important 
part in musical numbers in picture 
and when routed on road will be ac* 
•companied by bevy of girla, 



20 



VARIETY 



Wednesday, OctoKer 7, 1936 




In 

ft; 




-Hollywood Beporier 



"A Sure-Fire Box-Office Hit 11 

''This Is a whale of a show, packed solidly 
with top entertainers and lop entertain* 
men! from end to end. With about every- 
thing that a light musical should or can 
have, it is a .box-office bonanza and is 
likely to do some fancy record-breaking 

everywhere." —Hollywood Reporter 



Heal Box-Office Thiroughoiif' 

"Entertainment is the word for 'The Big 
Broadcast of 1937/ Laden with laughs, swell 
music, lively tunes and rollicking dia- 
logue/ the picture is a riot of fun. From 
opening scene it moves at a grand pace 



and is throughout real box-office. Never 
taking itself seriously, the film has a gen- 
uine flippancy that is always amusing." 

— Daily Variety 

"A Wealth of Values ' 

"A wealth of values is inducted here, re- 
sulting in high quality entertainment and 
nice exploitation possibilities. The picture 
gives audience or exhibitor all that either 
looks for in a film. Both the spectacularly 
mounted celebrity revue and inside radio 
station comedy- romance sparkle with 
music, dancing specialties, excitement and 
fun that make desirable amusement mov- 
ing with speed and precision." 

— Motion Picture Daily 

'.\ ■ ■ ' 



"i .'»;' 

,.,/-.'t;0": 



. 'i'.IIfw.iq 

..•,'<:•.; 

■■<•■£ 



"THE BIG BROADCAST OF 1937 



with 



JAQK BENNY • GEORGE BURNS and GRAGIE ALLEN • BOB BURNS » MARTHA RAYE 
BENNY GOODMAN AND HIS ORCHESTRA • Shirley Ross • Ray Milland • Frank Forest 
Benny Fields and specialties by the following: Leopold Stokowski and his Symphony 
Orchestra • Louis DaPron • Eleanore Whitney • Larry Adler • Virginia (Pigtails) Weidler 
David Holt • Billy Lee • Directed by Mitchell Leisen • A Paramount Picture 



■W 

mm 

lit? 



Wednesday, October -7, 1936 ; 



PICTURES 



VARIETY 21 



254 Muggs TeD the World About 
Hollywood; Latest Official Roster 



Hollywood,. Oct. 6. 

No. 1 position in list of press cre- 
dentials ' issued to writers covering 
the studios went to the Associated 
press last week. List issued by the 
Motion Picture Producers Associa- 
tion totals 254, a decrease of 39 from 
the previous quarterly roll. Press 
associations, syndicates and newspa- 
pers received 167; freelance .writers, 
J}9, and foreign press, 48. «■ . 

Card No. 1 is held by Walter B. 
Clausen of the AP. The other press 
associations, International News 
Service,. United Press and Universal. 
Service, is represented by two or 



more correspondents each. Twenty- 
one daily newspapers have 'regular 
representation in the studio colony, 
and 12 of the national syndicates, in- 
cluding the Associated Negro Press. 

Newspapers in nearly every for- 
eign country have reps here to send 
out news. Correspondents of some 
spots are Nora Laing of Cape Times, 
South Africa; Hiroshi Suzuki, of 
Osaka Mainicki Shimbu; Desider Pek 
of Az Est, Magyar Orszag; Tamara 
Andreeva, of Roupor, Harbing, 
China; Nejdt Yoncebva, of the^Cum- 
huriyet, Istanbul; Hassan Ezzat, . of 
Al Ihram, Cairo, Egypt, and Lily 
Leion, of the Elokuva-Aitta, Finland. 

List of scribes and sheets follows: 



Studio Press Correspondents 



'Associated Pressr Walter R. Clau- 
sen, Hubbard Keavy, Bobbin Coons, 
Brian Bell, Relman Morin, Homer 
McCoy. ; : 

.United (Press: Ronald Wagoner, 
Leo Baron.NHenry Sutherland, Theon 
Wright, Alan McElwain. . 

; :iKing Features: Harrison Carroll. 
'Chryse Coleman. 

'Hollywood Citizen-News: James 
Francis Crow, Elizabeth Yeaman. 

. Universal Service: Louella O. Par- 
sons, Belle Postal. 

Newspaper Enterprise Ass'-n: Paul. 
Harrison, Erskine Johnson, Jeannetto 
Meeharu ' . 

'^International News Service: .W. X. 
Hawles, Griff ing Bancroft, Jr., Mrs. 
W. X., Rawles. 

. lips Angeles Times: Read' Kendall, 
Edwin Schallert, Philip. K. Scheuer, 
John Scott, Alma -Whitaker, Grace 
Kingsley, Jane Plante, E. V. Durljng, 
Marshall Kester. 

Los Angeles Examiner: George Mc- 
Call, Florence Lawrence, Harriet 
Parspns, Muriel Babcock. 

Los Angeles Herald , and Express: 
Jimmy Starr, W. E. Oliver. 

Los Angeles Evening News: Vir- 
ginia Wright, Fyank Mjttaur. 
vLos Angeles . Illustrated Daily 
News: Eleanor Barnes. • 
■ New York Times: Douglas 

• Churchill. 

Philadelphia Public Ledger Syn- 
dicate: Alice Tildesley. 

Block Newspapers: Eileen Percy, 
Helene Barclay. ; 

Chicago Tribune Syndicate-N. Y. 
Daily News: George Shaffer. 

North American Newspaper Alli- 
ance: Sheila Graham. 

Christian Science Monitor: Robert 
K. Shellaby. 

■ Quigley Publications: Boone Man 
call, Llewellyn Miller, Gus McCarthy, 
Milton Watt, Stanley Morris. 
" Film Daily: Ralph Wilk, Ted Wilk. 

Variett and Daily Variety: Arthur 
Ungar, Bill Brogdon, Jack Edwards, 
Jack Jungmeyer, Murphy McHenry, 
Jack Hellman, William Swigart, Kay. 
Campbell, George Barr Brown, Gene 
Haynes. 

;Seript: Bob Wagner. 

Hollywood Reporter; William Wil- 
kerson, Fred Stanley, Reed Porttr, 
Ted Taylor, Edward Gibbons, Harry 
Friedman, Vance King. 

Hollywood Spectator: Welford 
Beaton, Lawrence Hughes. • 

■ Associated Publications: Ivan 
Spear, Phil Juergens, Russell Hoss. 

•Insider: Murray Bois-Smith, Paul- 
ine Gale, Frank. R. Jackson; 

• Liberty Magazine: Ted Shane. 
McNaught Syndicate: James Fid- 

ler, Lloyd Brownfield, Henry Fine, 
Jack Melvjn. 

-Billboard: Seymour Peiser, Steve 
Henry. 

. . Fawcett Publications: Harry Ham 
rnond Beall, Harmony Haynes. 

Hollywood: Ted Magee. 

Movie Classic: Eric Ergenbright. 

Screen Play: Marian Rhea." 

Motion Picture: John Schwarz 
koff . 

Screen "Book: Florence Johnson. 

Modern Screen: Leo Townsend. 

Movie' Mirror and - Photoplav: Ruth 
Waterbury, Walter Aldertori, Sara 
Hamilton, Walter Ramsey, Dorothy 
Fish, Howard Sharpe, Kathleen How 
ard. 

Picture Play: Elsa Schallert. S. R 
(Dick) Mook, William McKegg. 

Silver Screen and Screenland. 
JEmabeth Wilson, Jerry Asher, Ida 
Zeithn, Ruth" Tildesley. 

Good Housekeeping: Dixie Willson. 

Sell Syndicate: Evelyn Herberts. 

Boston Globe: Mayme Ober Peak. 

New Orleans Item-Tribune: Mrs, 
Ohye Orbison. 

hart° St °n Sunday Post: Myrtle Geb 

Editor and Publisher: Ken Taylor. 
s>t. Louis Post Dispatch: Harry Nie- 
meyer. 

.New York Daily News: Sidney 
Skolsky. 

. San Diego Union: Naomi Baker. 
i»creen and Radio Weekly: Cleve 
land Plain Dealer; Cincinnati Times 
s>tar: Jesse Daniel Spiro. 



Edwin 



Duluth News-Tribune: 
Turhbladh. 

Evening Telegram, Superior, Wis.: 
Ruthalice Selznick. 

New York Daily News, Chicago 
Daily Tribune: Rosalind Shaffer. 

Showmen's Trade Review: Joe 
Blair. 

New Yox*k Journal, Washington 
Post, Boston- Daily Record, Los An- 
geles Examiner: Lloyd Pantages. 

Movienews, Chicago; Oregonian. 
Portland; Marie Canel. 
Stage: Cornelia Penfield. 
Jewish Telegraphic Agency' Syndi- 
cate: Helen Zigmund. 

.Detroit Free Press: Clarke H. 
Wales. 

Screen and Radio Weekly: Lyle 
Rooks. Frances Morrin. 

King Features Syndicate, New 
York Daily Mirror, Sunday Magazine 
Section; New York Evening Journal, 
Chicago Evening American: Jack 
Lait, Jr. '. 

Baltimore- Sun, Philadelphia Bul- 
letin, Minneapolis Star,- Oakland 
Tribune: Jessie Henderson. 

Southern California Associated 
Newspapers: Marion Nevin. 

Hollywood Mirror, Dipali (Calcut 
ta>, Hindu (Madras), Jam-E-Jan- 
shed- (Bombay): Jeannete -Rex.. 
. Parents Magazine: Mrs. John Vru 
wink, Mrs. Palmer Cook. . . 

Seven Arts Feature Syndicate, 
World Wide News Service: • Louis 
Pekarsky. 

Long Beach Press-Telegram: Don 
Todd. 

Popular Mechanics: Herbert S 
Zadach. 

Musical Courier, Metronome, Etude' 
Music Magazine: Carl D. Kinsey. 
Musical America: Hal Crane. 
International Photographer: Earl 
Theisen. 

Star-Bulletin, Honolulu: Georgia 
Stiffler. 

Associated Negro Press: Fay M. 
Jackson. 

Courier, Pittsburgh: Bernice Pat- 
ton. ' ' > 

Cinema-Graphic-News Service: Ed- 
ward Long, 
World, Tulsa, Okla.: Larry Smith. 
Register, Des Moines: Joseph Lew- 
ellen. 

News-Advertiser, Flint,- Mich.: 
William. A. Halpern. 

American Cinematographer: Harry 
Burdick. 

Tribune, South Bend, Ind.: Betty 
Proctor. 

Popular Science: Andrew R. Boone. 

Chicago Morning MaiJ, Illinois 
News Ass'n: Marshall Ames, III. . 

Thompson Service, Cincinnati: ■Irvv 
ing Wallace. 

Arcadia News, Long Beach Nejirs- 
Sighal, B'nai B'rith Messenger, Los 
Angeles Bulletin: Barney Glaze?. 
' South End Reporter, Chicago; 
Press Councils, Inc., Chicago: Hanna 
SpectOr. 

Sunday Sun, Telegram, Lawrence, 
Mass.: Dot Meyberg. 

Clilton Publications: Harry R. Ter- 
hune. 

Nebraska State Journal, Lincoln: 
Virginia Barrett. • 

New York Sunday News: Adelaide 
Fielding. 

New York Enquirer: Dorothy Port- 
ser. 

Holland's Magazine: Prudence An 
derson. 

New York Herald Tribune: Fay 
Gillis Wells, Linton Wells. 

Sunday (N. Y.) Herald -Tribune: G, 
Horace Mortimer. 

Studio Free Lancers (Fan Mags) 

Philip H. Bailey, Barbara Barry, 
Byron Bishop, H. A. Boyd. 

Maude Cheatham, J. Eugene Chris- 
man, Sada Cowan. 

Franc Dillon, Wick Evans, Jack 
Grant. 

Gladys Hall, Katharine Hartley 
Gertrude Hill. Julie Lang Hunt. 

Leroy Keleher, Jeanne De Kolty 
Juliette Laine. Linn Lambert,' Jerry 
Lane, Harry Lang, Maude Lathem, 
Sonia Lee. 

Ben Maddox, Marcella March, Vir- 
ginia Maxwell, Anne Ellis Meyers, 
Fred Myers. 



Eleanor Packer, Rilla Page Palm- 
borg, Kay Proctor, James Reid, 
Ramon Romero. 

Lillian Shirley, Jon Slott, Doro- 
thy Spensley, Helen Starr, Leon Sur- 
melian, Whitney Williams, Virginia 
R. Wood, Dorothy Woolridge. 
Foreign Press Correspondents 

Amalgamated Press, London: Col. 
S. F. Jacobs. 

Cinearte, Rio de Janeiro: Gilberto 
Souto. 

Kinematograph Weekly and Pic- 
ture Goer, London: Phil Lonergan. 

Illustrated Weekly, India; Cape 
Times, South- America Lady's Pic- 
torial,' Free Lance: Nora Laing. 

Cinelandia, Los Angeles: John J. 
Moreno. 

Sintonia, Buenos Aires: Carlos 
Borcosque, Jack Hall. 

Aconcagua, Femina, B. A.. Cine- 
landia, Ecran, Zig-Zag, Chile; Tito 
H.- Davison. 

La Patrie, Montreal: Louise Gil- 
bert, Lucien A. Sauvage, 

L'Intransieeant and Pour Vous, 
Paris: Harold Salemson. 

Pour Vous and Vptre Beaute, 
Paris: Paula Walling. 

Excelsior, Cinemonde, L'Ecran, Le 
Petit Parisien: .C. L. George. 

Ibero- American Press Bureau. Re- 
Vista de Devista,' Mexico City; Cine- 
gramas, Madrid: Movie Times. Eiga 
No Tbmo, Tokyo; Eugenio de . Zar- 
raga. 

Sunday Post, Dundee: - Canadian 
Papers, Glasgow Bulletin: Robert 
Watson. 

Daily Express. Film Weekly. Film 
Fair, London: William H. Mooring. 

Osaka Mainichi Shimbun: v Heroshi 
Suzuki. 

Reuter's News Agency, London: 
Col. R. A. Duckworth-Ford. 

Az Est, Pesti Naplo, Magyar Ors- 
za?: Desider Pek. 

Berliner Tildende .Syndicate. Co-, 
penhagen; Film Og. Tester, Oslo: 
Allen Hersholt. 
Paris-Soir: .Jacques Lory. 
Melbourne Sun Pictorial. Daily 
Telegraph, Women's Weekly, Sydney: 
Arthur H. O'Connor; 
Cinemonde: Elaine Hellinger.' 
Schweizer Cinema, Film Presse. 
Geneva: Film, Lausanne: Hans 
Schneider. 

West Indian Review, Jamaica: 
Norma Deane. 

• Le- Peuple, Shell Revue, De A a Z, 
Belgium: Victor de Vise. 

Mujeres Y Deportes, Mexico City; 
Novedades: Horacio Randolph.. ' 

Ibero-American Press Bureau: Isa- 
bel Martinez. 

. Era, News and Mercury, Readers 
Own Journey, London: Mrs. E. M. 
Buchanan. 

Roupor, Harbin, China: Taniara 
Andreeva. 

Filmjournalen, Vecko- Journalen, 
Husmodern, Lektyr, ' Stockholm: 
Leonard' Clairmont. 
Graphic, Manila: P: C. Morantte. 
Screen Pictorial, Pearson's Week- 
ly, London: Guy Austin. 

El Dia Graflco, La Noche, Barcelo- 
na; Diario De La Narino, Havana: 
Mercedes S. De Ortiz. , 

Advertiser, Adelaide: Julia Mac- 
Donald. 

Filmbilden, Stockholm: Gunnar 
Carman. 
Social, Havana: J. P. Bombino. 
Bonniers Manadstidning, Stock- 
holm: Eric Valdemar Drhnmer. 

Grafos and Humory Comercio, Ha- 
vana: Elena Rivas. 

Sabuni International ' Syndicate: 
Victor J. Sabuni. 

Free Lance (English Papers): Mrs. 
Andrea Angel. 

Toronto Star Weekly: Roslyn Miles 
Hudson. . 

Arbeiter-Zeitung (Basil),. Svzial- 
demokrat, <Pravo Lidu (Prague), 
Volksprecht (Zurich), Social Demo- 
kraten (Stockholm): Max Winter. 

Cumhuriyet, Istanbul: Nejot Yon- 
cebva. 

El Telegrafo (Guayaquil), . La 
Razon (Bolivia), Hoy, El Imparcial 
(Chile ): Rafael M. Elizalde. 
Al Ihram, Cairo: Hassan Ezzat. 
' Central Press Canadian, . Star 
Newspaper Service, Toronto: Flo 
Marshall. 
Woman, Sydney: Thornton March. 
Elokuya-Aitta, Finland: Lily Leino. 



New French Canjga Gets H wood 
Break-in and OK on Than at Opera' 



His Log Book 



Hollywood, Oct. 6. 

TWA flying pals of La Verne 
Brown, pilot recently tagged to 
contract by .B. P. Schulberg, 
gave him a present when he 
left the line. 

It .was a diary. 



H'WOOD RACE TRACK 
CHANGES ITS LOCALE 



Los Angeles, Oct. 6. 

Kicks from the Douglas Aircraft 
Corp. and the Bureau of "Air Com- 
merce against construction of a new 
$1,000,000 race track near the com- 
pany's plant at Santa Monica has 
caused the Hollywood Turf Club , to 
abandon the site. Alfred E! Green, 
prez of the club, asserted -that the 
club has options on three other L. A.« 
sites. . 

Announcement of selection will be 
made shortly. ' 

Green said that it would take about 
eighth months to erect the plant and 
that 350 men will be employed for 
that purpose, He. emphasized that, all 
money subscribed "has come from 
Southern California residents with 
idle money available to invest, in' a 
sporting proposition; 

Green further stated that when, the 
organization starts construction .of 
the track that it will Have S1.250,600 
in the treasury. Through good 
purses, outfit hopes to bring top nags 
to the /Coast for the summer racing 
season. Proposition is directed pri- 
marily at the tourist trade. .' , 



BKO'S 'DIRECT MAIL' AWAED 

Cincinnati, Oct, 6. 
Top award in a nation-wide field 
of 50 entries for competition in the 
'Direct Mail Leaders of 19J30' was 
copped by RKO-Radio Pictures last 
week in the three-day annual con- 
ference and exposition of the Direct 
Mail Advertising Association, con- 
ducted here in the Netherland Plaza, 
The prize-winning material was ac- 
credited to Leon J. Bamberger, sales 
promotion manager of RKO-Radio 
Pictures. 

Judging was on novel, artistic and 
^impressive grounds. * It*wa% trie as- 
sociation's 19th yearly powwow. 



Hollywood, Oct. 6. 

Successful results of photograph- 
ing 'Charlie Chan at the Opera' at 
?0th-Fox with the new Devrie Super 
Parvo camera, an importation from 
France, has studio execs enthused 
over its possibilities. Lucien Andriot, 
Bruce Jlumberstone and John Stone, 
producer, believe the new product 
will prove advantageous to Holly- 
wood production. 

Principal features are said to be 
in mobility because of much less 
weight, which saves 15-30 minutes 
on each setup, improvements on fo- 
cusing apparatus, only one loading 
for each 1,000 feet of film shot, and 
accessibility of all adjustable parts. 

Camera weighs only 95 lbs., as 
against the American equipment of 
440 lbs., including camera and si- 
lencer blimp. Cost also is said' to be 
much less than U. S. equipment. 

Saving time is said to be found in 
the outside punch marker for syn- 
chronization. In the old style si- 
lencer blimp equipment, it is neces- 
sary to open up the blimp, , get into 
the "camera' and mark the film for 
takes. The one-punch sytem does 
away with this method. Likewise, in 
old style cameras, film frequently 
runs out without knowledge, of the. 
cameraman until the camera is 
opened up. With the new French 
camera, the equipment stops as soon 
as the fllm runs out. 

Hal Mohr will use the camera in 
Shooting "Tod o' the Town' at 
Universal. 



Pathe Vs. H, B. Freedman 
For $5,000; Shorts' Deal 



N. Y. Supreme Court Justice 
Shientag has directed Herman B. 
Freedman to appear Oct. 28 for ex- 
amination before trial of the action 
brought against him by Pathe Film 
Corp., to recover $5,000 on promis- 
sory, notes. The court also directed 
Freedman to produce his books. 
Other defendants named in the suit 
are First Division : Exchanges, Inc., 
and Pathe Exchange, Inc., predeces- 
sor of the plaintiff.. 

Freedman has entered a general 
denial to Pathe's claim and has. filed 
a counter-suit alleging that!. Pathe 
Film Corp. had interfered .and pre- 
vented First Division from, carrying 
out its .agreement with Freedman in 
connection with., the distribution of 
six one-reel 'News Laugh' pictures, 
allegedly owned by Freedman. 



Two Athletes Settled 

Suits Vs. Newsreel 

Two breach of contract suits in- 
volving Movietonews, Inc., have been 
settled out of court it became known 
yesterday (Tuesday) when attorneys 
filed stipulations in the N.Y. supreme 
court discontinuing the actions. 

Siegried Stein wall, ski- jumper, 
known professionally as "The Great 
Siegfried,' filed suit in 1934 naming 
Movietonews, MGM Distributing 
Corp., and International Newsreel 
Corp. He sought $50,000 for neglect 
ing to properly compensate him in 
the distribution of shorts taken of 
him in October, 1933. 

The other suit, by Sidney Frank 
lin, the bullfighter, against Movie 
tone News and Fox Film Corp., 
asked $100,000 damages for exploit 
ing his name and picture without 
his consent. His complaint also il- 
leged libel. 

Details of the settlements were not 
made public. 



Advance Production Chart 



(Continued from page 17) 
final preparation touches to «A STAB IS BORN,' formerly IT HAPPENED 
IN HOLLYWOOD/ which will Be made In Technicolor. 



Universal 



One In work, 14 editing, eight preparing. In work: 

'THREE SMART GIRLS/ reported Variett Sept. 16. No pictures started 

To start next are -MURDER ON THE MISSISSIPPI/ 'TREVE/ TALK 
OF THE TOWN/ 'BLONDE DYNAMITE' and 'ADVENTURES END/ 



Warners 



Seven in work, 14 editing, 10. preparing. In worki. . . ..... 

'MELODY FOR TWO/ reported Variety Sept. 2; 'MOUNTAIN JUSTICE/ 
reported Sept. 16; READY, WILLING AND ABLE/ 'ANOTHER DAWN* 
and 'PENROD AND SAM/ reported Sept. 30. Started last week: 

SAN QUENTIN/ produced by Sam Bischoff, Lloyd Bacon directing, orig- 
inal by Robert Tasker and John Bright, screen play by Humphrey Cobb 
and Peter Milne. Cast: Pat O'Brien, Ross Alexander, Frank Bruno, Hum- 
phrey Bogart, Doris Weston. 

Story centered arpittid ^prison life wherein Pat O'Brien, U. S. Army 
officer, is sent to San Quentin to investigate and handle an uncontrollable 
situation. As captain of the yard he starts to reform ' the system of 
treating the prisoners. Off duty, he meets a girl whose T.rother is a con- 
vict in the prison. O'Brien takes a paternal interest in the boy and tries 
to reform him until an old-time guard learns of the romance between 
O'Brien and the girl, gets to the boy and tells him that the new captain Is 
only being nice to him because he had wronged his sister. This incites 
the boy to a point where he, with the aid of the old guard and other 
prisoners, stages a prison break, and he sets out to get O'Brien. Through 
a confession he brings about- a general reorganization of the prison guards 
who have been causing trouble within the prison. 

'BAD MAN'S TERRITORY,' produced by Bryan Foy, directed by E. 
Reeves Eason, original by Marian Jackson, screen play by Luci Ward 
and Joseph Watson. Cast: Dick Foran, Linda "^erry, Harry Woods, Frank 
Orth, Edmund Cobb and Harry Otho. 

Story centers around period when Lew Wallace, author of 'Ben-Hur,' 
was governor of New Mexico. Group of cattle owners set themselves up 
as rightful kings by taking all the land they wanted, prohibiting any new- 
comers to muscle in. Campaign; on part of the constitutional authority to 
rid the territory of this domination sees Dick Foran playing part of the 
carefree cowboy who, through chain of circumstances and part he has 
played in the campaign for law and order, finds himself elected sheriff. 

Readied to start: THE MARRIAGE CLAUSE/ Harry Joe Brown pro- 
ducing and William Keighley directing. TO follow are 'THE KING AND 
THE CHORUS GIRL/ produced by Mervyn LeRoy; 'OVER THE WALL/ 
THE DESERT SONG/ 'DANTON/ 'KID GALAHAD/ 'MY HUSBAND'S 
SECRETARY' and THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER/ 



22 - VARIETY Wednesday, October 7, 1936 



Ace sports soribe Paul Gallico had 



a brainstorm about a newspaper lad 



k-y 



who ^hai&Ka hi s gal a three alarm fire for a wedding 



present . The Saturday Evening Post grabbed it, published 



it * Millions of Post fans clapped hands , cheered . 



B. P. Schulberg grabbed it, filmed it 



with ace romantic comedy team, JO AN BENNETT 



and GARY GRANT* Directed by Richard 



Wallace . .~> # Now you get what the critics call 




s we 1 1 est r oman c e - c ome dy in months" 



*S • • • 



PRESEN 



to prove for the millionth time 




Wednesday, October 7, 1934 



PICTURES 



VARIETY 23 




Film Industry Plans Huge Pix 
Exhibits for N. Y.'s Fair in 1! 






The film Industry will be repre- 
sented at the world's lair in New 
York in 1939 by the largest array of 
picture projection machines, minia- 
ture screen shows and display of 
negative ever assembled in one sin- 
gle, show. Latest developments and 

• improvements in pictures, equip- 
ment, and- projection will be avail- 
able/for use in actual commercial 

' propositions. 

It is estimated that there will be 
nearly 1,000 projection machines 
operated in various buildings and 
exhibits at New York's big exposi- 
tion. Approximately 400 were in 
Constant use at the Chicago world's 
fair two years ago, and more than 
double that number will be spotted 
In the N. Y. fair. 

Bulk of these will involve the con- 
tinuous projection, system such as is 
used in the lobby of the Rialto the- 
atre, N. Y., and by Industrial firms 
in the RCA Bldg. This system in 
these two locations employs 16 mm. 

. film and equipment. Most of the neg- 
ative and projection will be of this 

'Variety at the coming world's fair. 

No actual picture theatres to 
Which an admittance fee is charged 
Vill be permitted at the fair because 
of the almost certain objections of 
N. Y> regular exhibitors. 
. Industry is now mulling over the 
idea of spotting a huge special ex- 
hibit at the New York exposition, 
probably a replica of a model Holly- 
wood studio. If okayed it undoubt- 
edly would be conceived and con- 
structed through and under the su- 
pervision of the Motion Picture 
Producers and Distributors. 



1ST TWO BANK NITE 
ACTIONS IN DENVER 



Denver, Oct. 6. 
The first suits to be brought 
against the Bank Night as operated 
- by the Lucky : 'Seven • Theaters an 
Denver were -filed in court here by 
: two dissatisfied customers. 

Robert L. Voth, who is suing for 
. . $200,: claims he was registered at 
■ the Mayan theater, and was stand- 
ing. oUtside the theater when the 
. , hame ; was called as "Roth," and that 
. he did . npt answer • because he did 
not know his name had. been drawn. 
• Trial for his case has. been set Oct. 

• 19.-:.. . ■ • 

VjThie other contestant) Mrs. M.. C, 
v. Morflin, claims.; that she • was;.„regr' 
at st ,drawing by a so-called. 
' v^ourtes'y .card," given her at matinee- 
.performwice- and won! $1,000... The 
theater ^lrianaiement -denies that it 
has or has had such. a. card for Mrs. 
, Lorain, in its, possession. ... 

B. .D. Cbckrili, manager' of the 

• -. Denham. theater, and. manager of the 
. drawings, said that $92y000 had been 

given away since August, 1935, and 
these are the first /complaints. 
•-W Hickey, attorney for the 
. theaters, said the cases will be 

• fought- to the finish. '/Winning cus- 
tomers must abide by our regula- 
JiO-nslhat they be" present," he stated. 
This' is not a lottery,, it is a gift. 
No consideration whatever- is in- 
volved. - There is no charge for reg- 

, istration . and the registrant need 
never enter one of our theaters to 
wan. He may stand outside, but he 
must answer if his name and num- 
ber is called." 

The Civic Theaters, a group of 
nm * subsequent houses, gave away 
f -5,000 one night last week. This is 
a new high for them, but the record 
writhe town is still held by the 
A-ucky Seven, which gave $2,400 
night. 



one 



U Buys Passer Yarn 

Hollywood, Oct. 6. 
0 „7u p a s s e r, Czechoslovakian 
author, now in Hollywood, has sold 
nis unpublished novel 'Life of Alfred 
Nobel,' to Universal. 

Studio, planning to make it one of 
me- most important pictures on the 
schedule, has signed Passer to do the 
treatment. Book will be published 
latter part of this year. 



Appeals Court Confirms 
Nix on Par Legal Claims 

U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals on 
Monday (5) confirmed the ruling of 
District Judge Alfred C. Coxe, who, 
last November, ^ref used to allow the 
claims of several attorneys for serv- 
ices in connection with the Para- 
mount reorganization proceedings. 
The higher court at the Same- time 
reversed Judge Coxe and allowed 
the $3,000 claim entered by Adolpri 
Feldblum, attorney for petitioning 
creditors. 
> Those whose claims were refused 
were: Archibald Palmer, attorney 
for bond and stockholders, $15,000; 
Louis Boehm, $10,000; A. J. Schan< 
farb'er, Abram M. Frumburg, Edgar 
J. Schoen and Samuel Zirn, for 
services on behalf of Robert Levy, 
creditor, $75,000, and a separate 
claim of Zirn for $75,000, as attorney 
for holders of small . debenture 
bonds.' 



JOHN HARRIS OF Pin 
BUYS DEL HOCKEYISTS 



Detroit, Oct. 6. 

John Harris, Pittsburgh theatre 
owner, Sunday (4) purchased the 
Detroit Olympics, minor league 
hockey team, and will transfer club 
to Pittsburgh for. coming season. It's 
.first venture oi Harris ' into pro 
hockey, although he has operated an 
amateur team in the Eastern League. 

Harris, who also has owned sev 
era! minor. league baseball clubs and 
is a director of the Pittsburgh 
Pirates, acquired the Pittsburgh 
franchise several days ago after, the 
former ownership has turned it back 
to league. At that time - he ■ an 
nounced he would give Pittsburgh a 
winning club at any cost. Olympics 
have won - International League 
championship for past two years un 
der" Donnie Hughes, who will also 
manage club in Pittsburgh. 

Olympics will remain as farm for. 
Detroit Red Wings, local major 
league entry, Louis J. Griffels, gen. 
mgr. of Olympics, announced. The 
O's new home Will be the Duquesne 
Gardens,- Pennsylvania's -biggest ice* 
palace, m ..Pittsburgh. The . Harris 
group will have complete" control of 
the O's activities, financial and other- 
wise. ■-. . - w. - 

Harris also operates the; Family 
theatre here,, a venture started- :by 
his father. 35 ye'ars ago. 



U and Golden State, T &D. 
Finally Set Prod. Deals 



San Franoisco, Oct. 6. 

A two-year deal between -the 
Golden State, and' the T. & D. Jr. cir- 
cuits. f6r, ;the entire Universal .prod- 
uct wbs finally signed here, last week 
after a controversy which lasted 
oyer a period, of two weeks. James 
R. Grainger.'ige'ne'raP sales manager 
of Universal, made several' trips here 
from Hollywood to get R..A. McNeil 
of- the Golden State arid. Mike Najfy 
of T. & D. to signature a contract 
which would place his product in 
the 67 houses of both chains. 

When circuit execs couldn't get to- 
gether with Grainger on satisfactory 
terms, Universal exec threatened to 
run his product in churches, halls or 
tents. Deal hung fire so long that 
U had already, sold 'Godfrey' to op- 
posish houses in six spots where 
McNeil „ and Naify have houses. 
These contracts will be carried out to 
the letter by Universal, but McNeil 
and Naify will get entire Universal 
lineup for their other houses. 



EEGAN'S 'GO LUCKY' 

Hollywood, Oct. 6. 
Phil Regan's second picture un- 
der his contract at Republic will be 
'Happy Go Lucky,' an orig by Ray 
Schrock, Eric Taylor and Olive 
Cooper. 

Aubrey Scotto will direct, Colbert 
Clark supervising. 



Exhibs No Like Growing 
Business of Miniature 
Films — Releases Within 
Five or Six Months of Na- 
tional First Runs, Only in 
16-Millimeter Form 



More Projectionists' Training 
Schools Augur More Union Trouble 



REGULATING It 



Old flood of disputes oyer, non- 
theatrical competition with a resul- 
tant flow, of complaints from exhib- 
itors threaten to be revived over re- 
cently outlined plans of several ma- 
jor, companies to expand their re- 
lease of older product in 16-millime- 
ter form. -- 

■ One distributor, contemplating an 
extensive , program of feature re- 
leases in 16-mm. . size, is credited 
with having 50 feature films and 
about 200 short subjects now avail- 
able for the non-theatrical market. 
Some of the features are right up to 
within five or six months of national 
release date of the 35-ririn. produc- 
tions, ' according 'to 'current reports; 

The Hays office has maintained an 
aloof altitude on non-theatrical re- 
leases, whether 35-mm. or 16-mm. 
variety. This is based on belief that 
it is a matter for each individual 
company to decide because they are 
the ones who will receive the brunt 
of squawks from exhibitors, who in 
the past have opposed efforts of dis- 
tributors to secure additional reve- 
nue from this source. 

Two developments in the last 15 
months undoubtedly have" influenced 
several important companies on the 
feasibility of building ur> their non- 
theatrical business, via 16-mm.. talk- 
ing pictures and equipment. One is 
that sound equipment arid negative 
has been perfected to such an extent 
that the small-gauge films may be 
used in comparatively large exhibi- 
tion halls with .. excellent results. 
The other is the ease arid "effective- 
ness with which the 16-mm;' subjects 
can be shown. ■■■ ; ■ 

It now is possible to use a 750 or 
1,000- watt light with latest 16-mm. 
equipment that- compares favorably, 
with the 35-mm. projection arc. This 
equipment produces a motion . pic- 
ture B feet wide at' a distance of l2g 
feet. Splendid projection also is se- 
cured with pictures 14 feet in width 
when the 1,000-wattage equipment is 
employed. Only two- speakers are 
needed to produce satisfactory sound 
in the auditorium. '-' 

Exhaustive tests . have revealed 
that nothing of the high fidelity of 
the film's sight , and. sound is lost 
when the pictures are reduced from 
35 to 16 mm. Vast maj ority "of all in- 
dustrial subjects released in 16-mm.' 
form originally. is shot with 35-mm. 
negative and then, reduced to the 
small gauge film.. Big.-.* industrial 
firms find that best results are ob- 
tained this way rathertthan shooting 
originally with 16-mm', cameras and 
riegative. • ■■■—->' r • •»•; ^ 

While distributors, now planning 
to release their .old -.features ,in-.16- 
mm. form, are leaving it largely to 
individual exchange managers to de- 
cide what persons, organizations and 
localities shall be' supplied, the. old 
issue crops out as to when ' th'ese 
showings will not cripple the draw- 
ing power of presently established 
exhibitors. 

The most definite check on keep-" 
ing these squawks down to a mini- 
mum, in the opinion of industry ex- 
perts, is to delay release of all pic- 
tures in 16-mm. size Until the ex- 
change managers are convinced that 
regular feature picture requirements 
in his territory have been entirely 
exhausted. Even then it is highly 
dubious if exhibitors will get over 
their old resentment on the subject. 



N. D.'s Memphis Blues ~ 

New Orleans, Oct. 6. 
Association of Commerce," police 
officials and business interests which 
cooperated with the 20th Century- 
Fox camera crew during filming of 
local scenes of 'Banjo on My Knee/ 
are plenty burned up over reports 
that film will be story of Memphis 
instead of New Orleans. Crew had 
full cooperation of commerce group,' 
police and others during stay in be- 
lief flicker was to deal with New Or- 
leans. 

What burns the Association of 
Commerce is that the city's historical 
arid beauty spots as well as colorful 
riverfront will appear in film as those 
of Memphis. - 

SHOWMEN'S DEALINGS. 
IN PIX STOCKS, VIA SEC 

Washington,. Oct. 6. 

More heavy unloading of Grand 
National securities by -Edward. L. 
Alperson during August was re- 
vealed last- week by Federal-' Secur- 
ities & Exchange Commish. 

Supplementing his sales of nearly 
15,000 shares' during the previous 
fortnight, ' Alperson dumped 16,850 
more pieces of $1 common on. the 
market in eight days, according to 
reports filed. As result of peddling 
these ducats;- Alperson sliced his in- 
vestment from 43,396 shares to 26,546 
by Aug. 20; Biggest wad was sold on 
Aug. 4 : ; when 6,000 shares were 
dumped. Other large batches were 
2,500 on~" Aug." 3; '2,u00 on the 5th, 
2,500 on the ■ 10th and 2,300 on the 
11th. 

Disposal of 2,500 shares of G.N. 
in two chunks during August was 
reported by Carl^M. Leserman, .who- 
cut his . holdings to 2,900 shares. 

' Other trading in film stocks re- 
vealed by ,|S;E.C. was: 

Michael J. Meehan,' purchase of 
4 shares of Kefth-Albee-Orpheuih 
cumulative preferred ' during April, 
1935, swelling total to 26,804, • , 

-. Charles A. Stone,, exchange of 350 
shares of Pathe Class A preference 
in. September 1935; sale of 100 and 
purchase of 50 in August, 1935, and 
acquisition . of 300 in June, 1935. 
Wiped out his holdings by- end of 
September last- year. 

Major .Unloading, of 20th Centtiry- 
Fox common by Darryl-Zanuck; who- 
dumped 20,000. shares- in 13 trans- 
actions and cut his holdings - to 
162,130 at the- end of the- month. He 
peddled' -1<I;000 shares on the 26th 
and 1,-100 on the 12th, remainder go- 
ing in modest bunches. •" 

John D. Clark picked up 200 
shares of 20th Century-Fox, bringing 
his total to 201. 

.Belated reports showed Mike Mee- 
han held 26,8Q4 shares of jK-A-O pre- 
ferred at end, of 1935 while, rio i*athe 
"stock; was held by three •direc'.tors,- 
Robert W. Atkins, Henry J. Guild 
and Ellery W. Mann. ■ 



Hirsch Succeeds Leonard 

Charles A. Leonard resigned as 
advertising manager of Universal, 
succeeded by J. Albert Hirsch, his 
assistant last six months, effective 
Oct. 5. 

Leonard is reported joining War- 
ner Bros, staff ultimately. 



' Threat 'of another operator union " w 
in the Greater . New York, area, 
which now has three organizations 
occupying booths of the district,, is * 
seen in boothmen's circles by the re- 
sumption of schools for the training 
of projectionists. While the city . for 
a time was issuing no licenses to 
such schools, understanding in union 
quarters is that several new one's 
have sprung into' existence recently. 

It is known that at least Local 306, 
the New York union which is affili- 
ated with the American Fede'ratipn 
of Labor, may register a complaint 
with Mayor F. H. LaGuardia, who 
has been sympathetic to the local's 
cause, . and, it is felt, may be con- 
vinced that no further licenses 
should be issued. Uiiion leaders de- 
clare that the training of additional 
boothmen hjerely adds, to the pres- 
ently large number of unemployed 
in their ranks, which runs between 
2,000 and 3,000. 

With supply greater than demand, 
union fear is that if too many ad- 
ditional operators are schooled for 
booth work, the result will be addi- 
tional unions, to admit them to mem- 
bership and. that, with the material . 
for organization of more unions, 
present union scales will be threat- • 
ened. It is reasonable to expect that 
new unions,"" with "apprentice mem- - 
bers, would be willing to undersell j 
other unions on service in order to 
get into theatres. ' 
. Too many operators in past years, 
together with apparent willingness 
of .the city to license- them, helped 
lead to the organization of Allied 
and Empire, with Greater N. Y. to- 
day having, three different unions. It ' 
is understood in - union,,, circles that 
there is still a possibility of a merger 
of these organizations in spite of the;. ' 
politics involved; George E. Browne, 
president of the International Alljr, 
ance ot Theatrical Stage Employees', 
is giving .the matter considerable at- 
tention in the hope of effecting a 
consummation of plans for a consoli- 
dation that went awry a few months 
ago. 



Kuykendall Reports 
Much Enthusiasm for 
MPTOA 10-Point Plan 



Al Boyd's 2,500&ater 



Philadelphia, Oct. 6. 

Construction of new 2,500-seat 
midtowh film house is understood 
contemplated by Al Boyd, former 
operator of. Fox and other Philly pic- 
ture theatres. Corner of 16th and 
Chestnut streets, in heart of best 
part of town, is spot designated. 

Difficulty in way of carrying out 
project would be dearth of grade A 
films for exhibiting, as Warners 
has territory just about completely 
g-»wed up. Believed, however, that 
Boyd could land Grand National dis- 
tribution here and possibly United 
Artists, rumored to be somewhat 
disatisfied with past dealings with 
WB. 

Boyd currently operates number 
of houses in suburban districts and 
smaller towns of this area. Operated 
Fox until WB took it over several 
months ago. 



Ed Kuykendall, president of Mo- 
tion Picture Theatre Owners' of 
America, returned' ta'New- York": this 
week with 'word that the exhibitor 
enthusiasm* over the MPTOA 10- 
point program was amazing.': While 
generally cpnoeding that he has no 
definite plan of action to speed major 
.company approval on the main ob- 
jectives of the organization's pro- 
gram, he expects to be in Manhattan 
long. enough to iron out any details 
that* may arise. 

Kuykendall stated that the num- 
ber .'of exhibitors, some of whoiri lie 
never knew existed, who had wri£ 
ten him' while he was at his home 
in Clinton, Miss,, was amazing. All 
urged, him. to push through the 
MPTOA program to a successful 
conclusion.' 

While currently there is little 
inkling as to when the major dis- 
tributors will place their official 
okay on ^various clauses in the. 10- 
ppint line-up, leaders versed in in- 
dustry affairs expect approval of 
numerous' planks in this platform 
before Congress meets next Janu- 
ary. .' 



LE ROY GOES HUNTING 



Will Start First Indie Product When 
He Finds Gravet 



Hollywood, Oct. 6. 

MejjVyn LeRoy, who makes his 
bowilfea WB unit producer with 
'The Knag and the Chorus Girl,' can't 
find his recently signed star, Fer- 
nand Gravet, in France. 

Production is slated for start in 
few weeks, with LeRoy holding; 
everything in abeyance until he ca» 
locate Gravet 



24 



VARIETY 



Wednesday, October 7, 1936 





V 

A' 



i.f 




■ > ,-^fter the purposeful 

policy of one whole year's strategic 
roadshowinas for limited runs only 

WARNER BROS 

have created the most widespread 
public interest ever attracted to a 
motion picture success ... tor the 

NATION-WIDE RELEASE 
THIS WEEK of 



MAX REINHARDT'S PRODUCTION OF 




Starring. 

JAMES CAGNEY 
JOE E, BROWN 
DICK POWELL 
OLIVIA de HAVILLAND 
I A N HUNTER 
ANITA LOUISE 
ROSS ALEXANDER 
Jean MuirV Victor Jory 
Verree Teasdale • Hugh 
Herbert • Frank McHugh 
Mickey Rooney • Hobart 
Cavanaugh • Grant Mitchell 
Arranged for the screen by 
Charles Kenyon and Mary C 
McCall,. Jr. • Musical Ar- 
rangement by Erich r Wolf- 
gang Korngold • Dances 
Directed by Niiinska 






BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE • MUSIC IY MENDELSSOHN • DIRECTEO BY MAX REIHHABOT & WILLIAM DIETEflLE 




Wednesday, October 7, 1936 



PICTURE GROSSES 



VARIETY 



25 



VMM FAIR 

m IN MPLS. 



Minneapolis, Oct. 6. 
(Beat Exploitation: Orpheum) 

Outstanding box office strength ia 
lacking in this 'week's line-up and 
only mild grosses loom. Grand total 
of takings' will represent a consider- 
able letdown from recent peaks. 

'My Man Godfrey' and "Marihuana" 
. continue to be the best performers, 
After two tremendous weeks at the 
. Orpheum, the former . has moved 
over to the World and, judging by 
its $3,000 start at the Steffes sure 
seater, is likely to remain a consid 
erable while. 'Marihuana,' sex-ddpe 
film, helped by effective advertising, 
has been held over by the Time for 
a second week and is hitting the ball 
for $3,000. ■', 

.'Adventures in Manhattan' and 
■Ramona* at Orpheum ■ and Minne 
sota, respectively, are running neck 
and neck tend they're far from set- 
ting the town afire at $7,500 and 
$8,000. 

Orpheum did. the best exploitation 
job with special window displays, 
and a blotter number contest for 'Ad 
venture in Manhattan/ 

Estimates for This Week 

Aster (Publix) (900; 15-25)- 
♦Earthworm Tractors' (FN) and 
♦White Angel' (FN) (2d runs) and 
•Lady Be Careful' (Par) (1st run), 
split. Good. $000. Last week 'Sins 
of Man' (20th) and 'High Tension' 
(20th) ' (2d runs) and 'Son Comes 
Home' (Par) (1st run), $700, fair. 

Century (Publlx) (1,600; 15-25 )— 
♦Rhythm on Range' (Par) (2d run) 
Good $3,000. Last week 'Suzy* .(MG) 
(2d run), $3,500, good. 

Lyric (Publix). (130: 20-25)— 
"Kelly Second' (MG). Full length 
Charlie Chase 'comedy not showing 
power at light $1,200. Last week 
'Hollywood Blvd.* (Par) yanked after 
poor half week at $500, with 'I'd 
Give My Life'- (Par) .finishing to 
light $600. 

Minnesota (Publix) (4,200; 25-35 
55 ^Ramona' (20th). At 55c after 
5 prjrn., without stage show or other 
help, not cutting very wide swath. 
Heavily advertised in newspapers 
and well exploited and getting some 
feminine and children play, but en 
route to only $8,000. Last week *Road 
to Glory' (Par) and" Minnesota 
Washington football pictures, with 
latter bringing in many customers, 
$7.5$. light - 

Orpheum (Singer) (2,890; 25-35-40) 
— 'Adventures in Manhattan' (Col). 
Fair $7,500. Last week, second for 
'Mv Man Godfrey' (U). big $8,000. 
' State (Publix) (2,300; 25-35-55)— 
•Your Heart' (WB). Fair $5,500.- Last 
week, second pop. run for 'Great 
Ziegfeld' (MG), big $8,500. 

Time (Berger) (290; 25-35)-— 'Mari- 
huana' (Divaine-Ester) (2d week). 
Arresting front and sensational ad- 
vertising doing the trick for this 
sex-dope nicture. Big $3,000 after 
huge $4,000 first week at advanced 
prices. 

Uptown (Publix) (1,200: 25-35)— 
'Gorgeous Hussy' (MG). First nabe 
showing and good $3,000. Last week 
'Green Pastures'. (WB). $3,200, good. 

World (Steffes) (350; 25-35-40-50) 
—'■My Man Godfrey' (U). Moved 
here, after two big weeks at Or- 
pheijftjjand still luring the customers 
for itittf $3,000. Last week 'Love 
Agak»V(GB), $1,600, fair. 



Studio Placements 



Hollywood, Oct. 6. 
;-Td^Xeene: Howard Higgin direct- 
ing, <*Star of Empire,' Crescent. 

FrMTScott. Cliff Nazarro, Howard 
Hill-vflFhe Singing -Buckaroo,' Spec- 
trunfeLS 

Jack ". La Rue, George Rosener, 
Maurice Black, Matty Fain, Monte 
Vandergrift, Donald Cook; Peggy 
Shannon, Herbert S. Cohen direct- 
ing, ttllis Island,' Invincible. 

George O'Brien; Ewing Scott, 
screen play; David Howard direct- 
ing, 'Park Ave. Logger,' Hirliman. 

Leo Carrillo, 'History Is Made at 
Night/ Wanger; 'I Promise to Pay,' 
Col.~, 

Ward Bond, 'You Only Live Once,' 
Wanger. 

Lionel Pape, John Burton, Robert 
Strange, 'Love Under Fire,' Gold- 
wyn. 

Jack La Rue, Frankie Darro, Wil- 
liam Demarest, Paul Harvey, 'Mind 
lour Own Business,' Major. 

Aileen Pringle, Edward Arnold, 
■erancme Larrimore, Philip Cusi- 
mano, Fern Emmett, Jonathan Hale, 
Stanley Andrews. Harry Hayden, 
ttobert Strange; Richard Wallace di- 
recting, 'A Man and a Woman,' 
s»cnulberg. 

Roach 6 ^ lement ' 'Nobody's Baby,' 

- A J ! mes Carlisle, Dick Gordon, 
Arthur Tollasso, George French, W. 
u- Skidmore, Verne Richards, F. M. 
Watson, J. C. Dunn, Harry Van 
Meter, Henry Rinegue, Arthur Cer- 
^•ton, Oliver Ecfcart, William H. 
x!.Z lt X\ ^ Tom Dempsey, Sid Jarvis, 
«Hl O'Brien, John Van Pelt, Marilan 
Marlin, Bert Howard, Jean Gale, 
^ha r ie S Marsh, John Beck, Kerman 
hi^Ps. Gloria and Barbara Brewster, 
Hats Off,' GN. 



o DEAL FOR NBC'S 'ONE 
MAN'S FAMILY' AT PAR 



San Francisco, Oct. -6L 

Paramount has made a percentage 
deal for the 'One Man's Family' 
radio script show and cast, with de- 
tails finally set here yesterday 
(Monday) after several months' 
negotiations. Picture production 
starts Dec. 15. 

Carleton E. Morse, author of the 
air serial; NBC, and the radio cast, 
doubling in the picture, will share in 
the profits over $500,000, besides get- 
ting a guarantee. Negative cost is 
not expected to exceed $250,000. 

Deal was consummated by Charles 
Smith of NBC's Hollywood office 
with the signing by Par yesterday of 
J. Anthony Smythe, Minetta Ellen 
and Winifred Wolfe of the air cast. 
Barton Yarborough, Michael R. Raf- 
fetto, Kathleen Wilson, Bernice Wil- 
son and Page Gilman had received 
film contracts the day before. Prior 
to the signing ceremonies, entire 
cast witnessed film tests made by 
Paramount last summer and 
screened at the local Par exchange. 
Kathleen Wilson was unable to make 
the test with the others, but was 
accepted by Par without one. 

Morse and Smith left today (Tues- 
day) for Hollywood where Morse 
will spend a week in story huddle 
with Jack Cunningham, who will 
produce the picture for Par. Raf- 
fetto will sub for Morse as producer 
of the NBC broadcasts until latter 
returns. 

Although Morse will not have the 
final word on. the screen script, on 
which he Will have a collaborator, 
the contract gives him the right to 
delete anything he regards as detri- 
mental to. the radio version. Par 
has an option on 'One Man's Family' 
for one picture annually, , 



Dodsworth' 7G, L'viDe, 
With Astor Pkjd Down 



Louisville, Oct. 6*. 
(Best Exploitation: State) 

*Dodsworth,' coupled with 'Met in 
a Taxi' at the State, looks to top the 
rest of the first runs at $7,000. Other- 
wise product appears to be so-so, 
with below average" takings, ' 

Exploitation credit goes to Loew's 
State for k a nice billboard .campaign, 
bookmarks in libraries and larger 
newspaper space on 'Dodsworth.' 
Bally proved extensive and effective, 
and was kept at all times ethical. 
The fact that Mary Astor was in the 
cast was not played up in any in- 
stance, and her name was kept sec- 
ondary to Walter Huston and Ruth 
Chatterton. 

• Estimates for This Week- 
Brown (4th 'Ave.-Loew's) (1,500; 
15-25-40) — 'Ramona' (20th) and 
'Back to Nature' (20th), dual (2d 
run). No hefty takings, but. $2,300 is 
good. Last week 'Sworn Enemy' 
(MG) and 'Two in Crowd' (U), dual, 
$2,200, okay. 

Kentucky (Switow) (900; 15-25)— 
'Poor Little Rich Girl' (20th) and 
'Big Noise' (WB), dual. Shirley 
Temple opus a smash on this subse- 
quent run, and lobby well filled with 
standees over weekend. Pics will be 
held full week. Usual policy is split 
week; $2,500, 'way above average. 
Last week 'M'Liss' (RKO) and 
'Earthworm Tractors' (FN), dual, 
splitting with 'LoVe Again' (GB) and 
'High Tension' (20th), dual, okay, 
$1,800. 

Loew's State (3,000; 15-26-40)— 
'Dodsworth' (UA) and' 'Met in Taxi' 
(Cal), dual. Plenty of strength in 
the Walter Huston opus to stand- on 
its own feet, without the extra fea- 
ture. Around $7,000. Last week 
Ziegfeld' (MG) oh second stanza at 
slightly upped prices; $5,800, satisfac- 
tory. 

Mary Anderson (Libson) (1,000; 
15-25-40)— 'Your Heart' (WB). Only 
singleton on the main stem. Average 
$3,500. Last week 'Stage Struck* 
(WB), weak $2,500. 

Ohio (SettosO (900; 15)— 'Happiness 
Ahead' (FN) and 'Professional 
Sweetheart' (RKO), dual, splitting 
with 'Ace of Aces' (RKO) and '13 
Women' (RKO), dual. Getting some 
biz on bank nights, but otherwise 
just so-so. Low admish not condu- 
cive to hefty grosses; $800. Last week 
'Picture Snatcher' (WB) and 'Animal 
Kingdom' (RKO), dual, splitting with 
'Human Bondage' (RKO) and 'Party 
Wire' (Col), dual, light $700. 

Rialto (Fourth Ave.) (3,000; 15-25- 
40)— 'Wives Never Know' (Par) and 
Murder with Pictures' (Par), dual. 
Will be satisfied with $5,000. fair. 
Last week 'Ramona' (20th) and 'Back 
to Nature' (20th), dual, pretty good 
$5,400. 

Strand (Fourth Ave.) (1,500; 15-25- 
40)— 'Walking on Air' (RKO) and 
'Don't Turn 'Em Loose* (RKO), dual. 
Billboard campaign helping, but both 
pics fall short; fairly good $3,400. 
Last week 'Mary of Scotland' (RKO) 
under expectations at $3,600. 



So. Calif. ITO Organizes 
Its Own Servicing Group 

Los Angeles, Oct 6. 

Subsidiary of the Independent 
Theatre Owners of Southern Cali- 
fornia and Arizona to service mem- 
bers with booking data, etc., Is be- 
ing organized. For $6- weekly, mem- 
bers may participate in a joint buy- 
ing of accessories. Notice sent out 
by the ITO also asserted that 'con- 
fidential, inside dope' will be given 
occasionally. . 

ITO .members also are urged to 
report complaints against Fox-West 
Coast's zoning in the event any 
legal action becomes necessary. . 



DODS $13j§, 

m woo, k.c 



Kansas City, Oct 6, 
(Best ExpMtattea: MMfand) 

Lull created by spending jag of 
last week's 'Jubilesta' mob is bar- 
be ring all grosses. Offerings are 
pretty much on the heavy drummer 
side, with 'General Died at Davn,' 
Mainstreet: "Dodsworth,' Midland, 
and 'Give Me Your Heart' Newman. 

Biz is heaviest at Midland. • Ex- 
ploitation went after the gals and 
the hanky-wringers are boosting this 
to a fair $13,500. Midland also gets 
the bally award for its campaign. 

•Midsummer Night's Dream' at Up- 
town is weak. Pic played two weeks 
with roadshow top of $1.10 at Apollo, 
suburban 'second run house, last 
year.- Uptown doesn't look for Ijet- 
ter than $4,000, which is about av- 
erage dual biz. 

Estimates for This Week 
Mainstreet (RKO) (3,200; 25-40)— 
'General Died' (Par). Hitting $9,000. 
Last week 'Ramona' (20th) set in a 
bad week and may have done bet- 
ter without the 'Jubilesta' opposjsh, 
Which cooled it to $9,0001 

Midland (Loew) (4,000; 25-40)— 
'Dodsworth' (UA). -Mats holding 
fair, with nights off; $13,500. Last 
week 'Ziegfeld' (MG) (2d week) oke 
with $9,300. Mickey Mouse 'birth- 
day party' got 1,300 kids at 25c Qn a 
rainy morning. 

, Newman (Par) (1,900; 25-40)— 
'Your Heart' (WB). Perky "at $8,500. 
Last week 'Stage Struck' (FN) top- 
billing Jeanne Madden in ads, caught 
nice $7,500. 

Tower (Rewot-Fox) (2,200; 2J)-h 
'Love Begins' (FN), and vaude. 
Vaude carrying pic to fair $6,900. 
Last week '36 Hours' (20th), $6,$00, 
fair. 

Uptown (Fox) (2.030; 25-40)— 
'Midsummer Night's Dream' (WB). 
Wont better $4,000. Last week 
'Satan Met Lady' (WB) and 'White 
Fang* (20th), dual.' $4,000, fair. 

'Godfrey' at $16,000 
Newark's Pic Leader; 
'Cen.'-Uorm,' $4,200 

Newark. Oct 6. 
(Best Exploitation: State) 

All's quiet along the theatrical 
front this week. Topper is 'My Man 
Godfrey' at the Branford with $16,- 
000. 'Last of Mohicans* at Loew's 
counts on $12,500. 

Little relinquished 'Ecstasy' at 
last, after a five months' run, and 
switched to 'Passing of the Third 
Floor Back' with the b. o. hitting 
around $1,000. Proctor's with 'Swipg 
Time' in its second week features 
community singing on its amateur 
nights with gratifying results. 
• Loew's tied up- the local book- 
stores for the Fenimore Cooper 
readers; otherwise little exploitation. 
Estimates for This Week 

Branford (WB) (2.936; 25-75)— 
•Godfrey' (U) and 'Velvet Claws' 
(WB). Good $16,000. Last week 
'Stage Struck' (WBJ and 'Postal In- 
spector* (U). eight days, fair $15,600. 

Capitol (WB) (1,200; 15-30-40)— 
'General Died' (Par) and 'Girls' Dor- 
mitory' (20th), dual. Very good at 
$4,200. Last week 'Road to Glory' 
(20th) and 'American Wife' (Par), 
splendid at $4,400. 

Little (Franklin) (299: 30-50-55)— 
Third Floor Back* (BG) and 'Plow 
That Broke Plains' (Fed). Solendid 
at $1,000. Last week 'Ecstasy' 
(Jewel) (20th week), dropped to 
$600. 

Loew's State (2.780; 25-50-55)— 
'Last of Mohicans' (UA) and 'Sworn 
Enemy' (Col). Fair at $12,500. Last 
week 'Gorgeous Hussy* (MG), very 
good, $16,000. 

Par Newark (Adams-Par) (2,248; 
25-75)— 'Texas Rangers'. (Par) twin- 
ned with Three Married Men' (Par) 
(2d week). Fair at $7,000, Last 
week splendid at $12,000. 

Proctor's (RKO) (2,3?0; 20-65) and 
Lyceum (roof) (1.100; same scale) — 
•Swing Time' (RKO) (2d week). Oke 
$9,000. Last week great. $19,000. 

Terminal (RKO) (1,600; 15-20-35- 
40)— 'M'liss* (RKO) coupled with 
'Down to Sea' (Rep). Strong $4,500. 
Last week '36 Hours' (20th) and 
'Spanish Cape Mystery* (Rep), big, 
$4,500. 



ALL TACOMA B.O.'S HOT, 
'HUSSY,' $4,500, STRONG 

Tacoma, Oct 6. 
(Best Exploitation: Boxy) 

Waterfront'strfke talk isn't hurting 
biz, which is. good all around. ' ~- 

'Gorgeous Hussy* is rating exploi- 
tation tops at Roxy, with Joan Craw- 
ford gowns at downtown store win- 
dow, upped newspaper space and 
radio. 

Estimates for This Week 

Bine Moose (Hamrick) (750; 16-27) 
—'King of Royal Mounted' (20th) 
and 'Counterfeit' (Col), dual. Draw- 
ing great $2,300. Last week, 'Danc- 
ing Lady' (MG) and 'Big House' 
(MG), reissues, went to town for big 
$2,100, . 

Music Box (Hamrick) (1,400; 16- 
27-37)— 'Girls' Dormitory' (20th) and 
•Star for Night' (20th), dual. Head- 
ing for excellent £4,400. Last week, 
'Singr3aby, Sing* (20th) and 'Meet 
Nero Wolfe' (Col), dual, $3,700, good, 

Rialto (Moore) (1,350; 16-27-37)— 
"Craig's Wife' (Col) and 'Seven Sin- 
ners' (GB), duaL Big $2,800 in sight 
Last week 'Adventures in Manhattan' 
(Col) and Td Give My Life* (Par), 
dual, $2,600, good. 

Bexy (Hamrick) (1,300; 16-27-37)— 
'Gorgeous Hussy' (MG). Swell biz 
at $4500 pace. Last week 'Anthony 
Adverse' <WB), big $4,800. 

Strike Talk Nicks Seattle 
JUK's; 'Swing; $12,500 

Seattle, Oct 6V 
(Best Exploitation: Fifth Avenue) 

Talk of strikes on auto row and 
in steamship circles is not doing 
general biz any good. However, the 
two weeks respite at waterfront 
coming at 11th hour, may lead to 
avoidance of actual strike. 

Best exploitation for 'Swing Time' 
at Fifth Avenue, highlighted with 
tie-up with Packard dealer in na- 
tional broadcast and contest 
Estimates for This Week 

Bine Mouse (Hamrick) (900; 27 
37-42)— 'Girls' Dormitory' (20th) and 
'My American Wife'- (Par), dual. 
Moved from Orpheum; looks like 
big $3;800. Last week 'Sing, Baby, 
Sing* (20th) and I'd Give My Life* 
(Par), dual, $2,650, okay. 

Coliseum (Evergreen) (1,800; 21- 
32)— To Mary— With Love' (20th) 
and 'Little Miss Nobody* (20th), dual. 
Expect $4,000, "big. Last week 'Devil 
Doll' (MGM) and 'Chan at Race 
Track' (20th), dual, split with 'Re- 
turn of Sophie Lang' (Par) and 'We 
Went to College'. (MG), dual, landed 
okay $3,600.- 

Fifth Avenue (Evergreen) (2,400; 
27-37-42)— 'Swing Time' (RKO). 
Astaire-Rogers and oke campaign, 
drawing huge $12,500. Last week 
•Ramona' (20th), $6,000, moderate. ' 

Liberty (J-vH) (1.900; 16-21*27 
42)— 'End of Trail' (Col) and 'Man 
Who Lived Twice' <C61), duaL Good 
$4,600. Last week 'Craig's Wife' 
(Col) and 'Two Fisted Gentleman' 
(Col), dual, $3,800, slow. 

Music Box (Hamrick) (900; 27-37- 
42)— 'Nine Days a Queen' (GB). 
Floppo at $2,000. Last week, 'My 
Man Godfrey' (U) (4th wk), $2,900, 
good. 

Orpheum (Hamrick) (2,700: 27-37- 
42)— 'General Died at Dawn! (Par) 
and 'Women Are Trouble' :(MG), 
dual. Anticipated big $8,500. Last 
week 'Girls' Dormitory' (20th) 'and 
•My American Wife' (Par), dual, 
$7,600, good. 

Palomar (Sterling) (1,450; 16-27r 
37)— Two Against World' (FN) and 
vaude. Okay $4,000. Last week 
•Sitting on Moon' (Rep) and vaude, 
$4,100, fair. 

Paramount (Evergreen) (3,106; 27- 
37-42)—' Gorgeous Hussy' (MG) and 
'Star for Night' (20th) (2d week), 
dual. Drawing, okay $6,500. Last 
week, same films, smash $11,700. 

Polish Film En Route 

Under sponsorship of the Falanga- 
Films, a company of Polish actors 
partly produced a feature film called 
'An American Adventure' while 
crossing over on the Polish liner, 
Batory. Ship arrived in New York 
for film's completion Oct. 2. 

Final scenes will be shot in New 
York, Chicago and Buffalo, being di- 
vided between- Poland, shipboard 
and America. Production is in 
charge of Ryszard Ordynski and in- 
cludes Eugene Bodo, Sofia Nako- 
neczna. Adamo Didur, formerly 
with the Metropolitan Opera, is 
artistic adviser. 



Mastercraft Unset 

Sydney, Sept. 8. 
Although Mastercraft has had its 
local studio ready for production for 
some time, no announcement has yet 
been made regarding its future ac- 
tivity. 

Figured that the late F. W. Thrlng 
would join with Mastercraft, but a 
statement by the Efftee management 
points out that, beyond making a 
sale of equipment to Mastercraft, it 
(Efftee) has no financial interest in 
the studio and does not intend to en 
ter into production. 



Series 'Casts Cut 
hto Balto B.Q.s; 
Taffies/ $6,700 



Baltimore, Oct. 0. 
(Best Exploitation: Hipp) 
Taking much wind out of the b.o. 
sails this week are amusement op* 
posishes outside the pale of theatres.. 
Matinees have been severely dented 
during World Series broadcasts. 
Races at Laurel also hurting mats. 
And last night (Monday) every house 
in town" took the- count, due to the 
monster show held at Armory for 
benefit of Community -Fund. At $1 
admish folks saw whole cast ol 
radio's 'Showboat,' Benny Goodman 
ore and John Charles Thomas enter - 
tain, along with flock of lesser-name 
acts. 

Town topper is 'Ladies in Love' at 
the New. .Opened Saturday to ca- 
pacity and has been- holding heavy 
houses since. Swatty $6,700 appears 
certain, and will probably better 
fortnight run. 

The- ballyhoo boys were sort of 
stymied this week, due to papers 
throwing wide pages to Community 
Fund's 'Town Party.* Ted Routson 
worked out best angle for the Hipp 
by- tying in with benefit and- usinp: 
some stage-show talent from his 
house for the affair. In that manner 
got his spot plugged both in papers 
and at affair because of the donation 
of performers. The layout Lou 
Brown worked up for 'Dodsworth* 
for his Century, along with pic's ad- 
vance man, Art Catlin, ran the Rout- 
son campaign a close second.. 
Estimates for This Week 

Century (Loew-UA) (3,000; 15-25 - 
35-40-45)— 'Dodsworth' (UA). Dandy 
$12,500. Last week, second of 'Zieg- 
feld' (MG), $7,300, o. k. 

Hippodrome (Rappaport) (2^00- 
15-25-35-40-55-66) — "Follow Your 
Heart' (Rep) and 10-act vaude show 
Pic first indie release to get down- 
town showing in over a year 
spanked by press, ' That leaves a) 
the draw up to the vaude, being sole', 
strictly on its 10-act size; $11,500 th i 
acts are luring just a bit above th > 
water-line. - Last week 'Adventure i i 
Manhattan' (Col) and vaude, $15,000, 
very good. 

Keith's (Schanberger) (2,500; 15- 
25r30i35-40r55)— Two in Crowd' (U>. 
Six days ending tonight (Tuesday • 
at supper show bit off at $3,300. La: ) 
week, second of 'Man Godfrey' (U), 
went eight days to socko $7,200. 

Maryland (McLaughlin) (1,700; 5Z- 
83-$1.10-$1.50) — Two-a-day 'Romeo' 
(MG). Second week concluded Sat- 
urday (3) with $4,700, poor. The tw > 
legits in town cut the ground fror • 
under it. Fortnight total was $14,50:" . 
far under average grosses of lar . 
road-shown pic and far from satir- 
factory, since Metro spent plenty 
pesos publicizing. 

New (Mechanic) (1,400; 15-25-3C- 
35-40-55)— 'Ladies in Love' (20th- 
Fox). Magnetizing and mesmerizin -. 
the maids 'n' matrons completel;, 
Smacko $6,700 and will probably e; - 
ceed fortnight's run. Last week, sec- 
ond of 'Ramona' (20th-Fox), oJi. 
$3,000. 

Stanley (WB) (3,450; 15-25-35-40 
55)— 'Stage Struck' (FN). Taking ■■•> 
lacing at $4,800. Last Week 'Text ; 
Rangers' (Par) go od at $7,50 0. 

F-WC OPERATES 171 
HOUSES; 114 IN SO. CAT 

Los Angeles, Oct. 6. 
Fox-West Coast circuit is ..ho* ' 
operating 171 theatres in four state . 
with 28 houses dark. Largest nurr - 
ber of houses listed in Southern CaT- 
fornia, with 114 in operation, are di- 
vided into nine divisions. 

North California, with 43 house, 
open, has four operating areas. Ar. : • 
zona has five theatres and Montan i 
nine. * 



Showman's Son Killed 



Atlanta, Ga., Oct. 6. 

Charles G. Mion, Jr., 19-year-c' 
Tech student and son of co-own 
of Rialto here, died Friday (2) of i 
juries received in an auto crash. 

■Youth was riding in car with otl* 
college students following Tec 
Presbyterian football game, wk 
some unknown person hurled rc 
into car, knocking boy, who w 
driving, unconscious and causi. 
fatal accident. 



Green Megs Jean Arthi " 

Hollywood, Oct 6. 

Alfred E. Green will direct *S 
fari in Paradise,' at Columbia. 

Jean Arthur and George Brent Wit- 
he starred. 



VARIETY 



Wednesday, October 7, 1936 



■r.' 





€4 



RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL 



SHOWPLACE OF THE NATION 



ROCKEFELLER CENTER 



STARTS TOMORROW 
Doors open ii A. m. 




v. ^ <•? 



• A song-filled holiday in romantic Mexico farce at its' 
hilarious best as the bandits take up big business- methods' 
jr, .'a rare satire on a phase of Aiherican life rr.a happy and, 
tuneful delight in the Gilbert, and Sulliyqn~come~dy vein>) 

NINO M ART I N I 




i-t; 






79 



IDA LTJPINO * LEO CARRILLO 

A ROUBEtt MAMOULIAN Production 

- ' • — ' Presented by MARY PICKFORD and JESSE . L. LASKY 

Released ihru United Arlists - 




J d 



UNITED ARTISTS 



Wednesday, October ?, 1936 



PICT 



ES 



VARIETY 



27 




ide Stuff-Pictures 



Ace comedy director having met the routine economic reverses found 
himself forced to take a job stooging for a top writer-director team With 
latest pic . ready to go on the floor, producer held things up for 'a final 
reading by an outsider. Team asked stooge who could help in the matter 
Stooge suggested old scnpt-surgeon he had nursed in the biz from in- 
faricy. Team got script-surgeon, who was stuck for the answer and called 
at home of, stooge for help. ■ 

Stooge pointed but where script was weak. Tv*' been watching that 
.spot for weeks, he said, and only tonight found the way to plug it ' He 
told script 'surgeon how to fix it. '■■ 

Script surgeon reported to producer and became the white-headed boy 
overnight. ; Producer put him on salary to sit next to him on the rushes 
for the rest, of the production. 

Next producer said to unit, 'Boy, have I got a cutter for you' The best 
jn the biz/. 

Stooge wanted to say, 'Of course he's the best, I broke him in,' but as 
that would' be lese majeste, he was reduced to 'marvelous.^ 

Now he sits in the projection room down front among the peasantry 
and listens to the producer and the writer-director team behind him in 
conference with the script-surgeon he gave the right answer to, and the 
cutter he taught the biz. 

V Figures if he can laugh this one off he's still an ace comedy director. 

Popularity of art-research-picture displays, designed for use in libraries 
and schools, started with Metro's 'Romeo and Juliet' and RKO's 'Mary of 
Scotland,' fra's prompted the public relations division of ihe Hays office to 
get out others on forthcoming ace productions. Besides these first two, 
Warner Bros.' .'Anthony, Adverse* and Paramount's 'The Plainsman' wili 
' be given this publicity build-up. Now planning one for Columbia's 'Lost 
Horizon' and others. 

An indication of the demand , is found in. the 1,100 separate requests 
made to date by schools and librarians 'for the lay-out on 'Romeo.' In 
each instance the producers have cooperated" to supply drawings, etchings 
and other material showing the research work required for scenes in 
the production at hand. With 'The Plainsman,' Cecil De Mille dug up 
original sketches showing setting, costumes and other background of Gen- 
eral Custer's day that was employed in the picture's production. 

Announcement went out last week that 'Love From a Stranger,' current 
at the Fulton, 1 N. Y., is the first of the new season plays to be set for pic- 
tures. Actually, first new season play to go to films was 'Spring Dance,' 
which Metro bought several weeks ago.; 'Love From a Stranger' is before 
the cameras in London now,' l ut there's .a story back of. that. 

Alex Yokel bought the play in London last season, after seeing it there, 
paying what is understood to have been $10,000 advance for the rights. 
He had a previous tip, however, that Ann Harding would like to make it 
for pictures in London and the screen rights were sold to Trafalgar Films, 
a G-B subsidiary, almost immediately after Yokel bought the play, at an 
understood. $40,-000 price. Yokel therefore had a profit on the production 
before opening it in New York. His deal with G-B is that the film is not 
to be shown in the U. S. before the fall of '37. 



. Francis, Day St Hunter, British music publishers, threaten copyright in- 
fringement actions against 20th Century-Fox and the theatres showirig 'The 
Man Who Broke the Bank of Monte Carlo* in England, Australia,-. France 
and Germany. Examination before trial on a Canadian suit was held in 
Toronto last week, with Elliott Shapiro, of Shapiro, Bernstein & Co., 
American agent for the tune's copyright, testifying for the British pubs. 

Action which Shapiro-Bernstein had brought several months ago in 
behalf of F D & H named Famous Players-Canadian as co-defendant and 
charged that 20th Century had made use of the tune and its title without 
obtaining the required permission. Song is copyrighted in every country 
but the United States. 



What Tin Pan AHeyites consider one of the best songs Harry Richman 
does at the Hollywood restaurant, ,N« Y., Lew Brown's 'A Treat for the 
Eyes,', wound up on the cutting room floor when included in 'Music Goes 
Round' for Columbia. Richman" makes point of it during his current cab- 
aret engagement, just as he did last winter in Florida 4 where he bally- 
hooed the song as a then 'forthcoming' interpolation in the picture. How- 
ever, when Harry Conn, prez of Columbia, visited the Hollywood this past 
week, Richman skipped the number or any cinematic reference. Conn 
and Richman are still friendly, but the film man had been apprised of the 
picture reference. 



Twentieth-Fox has acquired a large portable refrigeration plant which 
will be used to freeze a skating rink on the floor of .any air-conditioned 
stage. It will be used for 'One in a Million,' Sonja Henje starrer now being 
made at 'the studio. Plant is under supervision of Walter Strohm, studio 
engineer, and Herbert Hoyden, refrigeration engineer, who handled the 
cooling of cement work on Boulder Dam. Rink covers 12,000 square 
feet with 10% miles* of 1%. inch pipe being required for the freezing. 
Takes three days for ice to form. Only air * conditioned stages can be 
us^f^is the air must be kapt at freezing point so that heat from the 
lights ' will- not cause a log. 



Rovised estimates. in Well Street on net income of Twentieth Century- 
Fox for the present fiscal year place the figure at slightly under $6,000,000. 
If earnings from National Theatres justify declaration of dividends, which 
would go largely to 20th-Fox. the final net may be increased over the 
total now being counted on. 

Initial dividend declaration of $1 on the common is viewed in the street 
as being the forerunner of further payments on the common, a hike and 
possible extra melon cutting for the preferred, which so far has been on 
a $1.50 annual basis. 



Several who are familiar to show business are connected financially in 
the New York Post. William Fox and Warner Bros., Inc., are among the 
security holders in the daily. Another is Bankers Securities Corp., of 
Philadelphia, in which investment firm, William Fox and Albert M. Green- 
field, are the two chief stockholders. Samuel Untermyer. attorney, is on 
the list; also Albert M. Greenfield & Co., of Philadelphia. This is disclosed 
in the annual sworn statement. 



It is estimated that when the accounts are in on Mickey Mouse birthday 
week ending Friday (2), during which special morning matinees of Walt 
Disney shorts were put on, the business will amount to $100,000 over any 
normal week. In having special Disney cartoon shows put 6n, United 
Artists made deals with theatres to play the shorts on percentage, first 
time ever done, with distributor , reported getting 25% and 30% as its share. 

Cecil B. De Mille, researching for his 'The Plainsman' at Paramount, 
learned that Chief Sitting Bull wasn't a chief at all, but just a medicine 
nian who had the eye on his tomahawking pals. Data also revealed that 
if Sitting Bull had had his say Custer wouldn't have been in the massacre. 
V* Mille made the revelations after his scribes had written up the 'chief 
as a trouble-maker. 



.Universal will go forward with its new Telco color process which it 
has developed on its lot. Dr. A. H. Giannini, president of United Artists, 
together with unnamed associates, are reported offering to buy into Telco. 

Process was developed by Robert Hoyt, formerly of the Massachusetts 
Institute of Technology, and Leon Ungar, formerly of Leland Stanford U. 

Because of Sidney Kent's then impending trip to Europe last week, the 
•Ways office directorial session was pushed forward one day. Aside from 
"ioutine matters, the directors okayed application of Pioneer Pictures ( Jock 
Whitney) and Samuel Goldwyn, Inc., for membership. R. H. Cochrane was 
Unable to' attend because he was still on the Coast at the time. 



.Incorporations 



NEW YORK 

Bornlaoen Productions, Inc./^laiuJuiin; 
theatricals,- ' .etc. ; capital stock, 150 
shares, no '. par value. Incorporators: 
William J. Cohen, Louis J. Genat, Harry 
Kratiss, all of 342 Madison avenue, New 
York City. 

Come Home to Boost, Ini\,' Now York ; 
theatrical business; capital stock, 200 
shares, no par . value. Incorporators: 
Alfred W. Berney, Marlene Cltrln, LoulB 
Miller, all of 170 Broadway, New York 
City, 

Artists Booking, Agency, New York; 
theatrical booking agency; capital stock, 
'SO Bhares, no par vttlue. Incorporators:. 
Bernard Luber, Irvine Cohen, Van Allen 
Holomon, all of 1S01 Broadway, New 
York City. 

Citizens Broadcasting Corp., Schenec- 
tady; general radio, broadcasting busi- 
ness; capital stock, 100 shares, no par 
value. Incorporators: Elizabeth Woods 
and Sidney Spector, both of 639 Fifth 
avenue, New York City, and DeWHt C. 
Mower, 243 State street, Schenectady, 

Phonetic Film Slide Projection Co., 

Manhattan; motion picture projecting 
machines, etc;;' .capital stock, 200 shares,, 
no par value.- . Incorporators: . Abraham 
Friedman, 215 Weat. UWst street, New 
York City; Victor- KarmtfuHI. 609 Madi- 
son avenue; New York City"; Sue Percy- 
Barnes, 202 Bast 43rd street. New . York 
City.- ". 

Double Cities Theatres, Inc., Bronk; 
theatrical business; capital stock, 100 
shares,' no par value. ' Incorporators: 
Eva M. Chadnow, 530 Parkslde avenue, 
Brooklyn; Sylvia Whitman, . 1717 66th 
street, Brooklyn; Regina Mostel, 69 Ave- 
nue D. New York City. 

Kenford Productions, Inc., Manhattan; 
theatrical -business; capital stock, 2,000 
Hhares, $10 jpar value. Incorporators: 
H. H. Gould, .Xi. M. Rlckner, Thomas 3. 
Early, all of 2.70 Madison avenue, New. 
York City. * 

American Features, Inc., Manhattan; 
motion picture dims, etc.; capital stock, 
200. shares, no par value. Incorporators: 
Rose Goldberg, 1683 53rd street; Brook- 
lyn; Edwin. F. Robey, 79-01 Ankner ave- 
nue. Queens, It. I.; Alexander Schleslnger, 
78 Post avenue. New -York City. 

F. P. IF. Corp., Kings; amusement 
parks, etc.; capital . stock, 100 Bhares, no 
par value. Incorporators: Samuel Gold- 
berg, Edwin C. Gowe.r, Ina Israelite, all 
of 261 SVoadway. New York CHy. 

Ibsen Productions, lac, New York; 
theatrical business; capital atock, 200 
shares, no par value. Incorporators: 
Samuel Levey, 300 Central Park "West, 
New York City; Raphael Jan none and 
Morris Katz, both of 150 Broadway, 
New York City. 

Ace Sports, Inc., Amsterdam: promo- 
tion of sports of all kinds; capital stock, 
50 shares, $100 pnr value. Incorporators: 
Rimer Welch, Charles Welch, Agnes 
Welch, all of. 2 Lindsay street, Amster- 
dam, N. Y. 

National Booting Corp., New York; 
booking .agency for actors, etc. Incor- 
porators: Thomas Pomploll. I dad ore 
Jacobs. Sam Plnknwltz, all of 170 Broad- 
way, New York City. - 1 

General Film Industries, Inc., New 
York; motion picture business; capital 
stock, 200 shares, no par value. Incor- 
porators, M. Ward Whalen. Milton C. 
Rose, Leslie CI I (Tor, all of 120 Broadway, 
New. York City. 

Ksrlnslve Artists, Inc.,. New York; the- 
atrical business;, capital stock; 200 
shares, no par valoS Incorporators: 
Benjamin Neuman. 47 West 34th street, 
New. York City; Kthel Berley, 420 River- 
side drive. New York City; Julia Hudak, 
115 East 86lh streef;- New York City. 

The Pretty Penny Com., Mnnhattsn: 
theatrical business.;' capital stock, 100 
r-hares, no- par value. Incorporators: 
Hilda Goldman. Rose I.arter. Jacob L. 
Sti-elsel. nil of 11 East 44th street, New 
York City. 



CONTRACTS 

: Hollywood, Oct. 6. 

Metro sealed Grace Ford to 
termer; also new termer handed 
James Stewart. 

Roy Eiler, special sound effects 
man, given contract at Republic. 

20th-Fox nailed Walter Catlett to 
year pact. 

Virginia Field's option lifted at 
20th-Fox. 

Robert Whitney signed to termer 
by Universal. 

Samuel Goldwyn tagged Robert 
Andrews with writing termer. 

I. Freleng. director of Merrie Mel- 
odie Cartoons, reticketed by Leon 
Schlesinger. 

Radio handed Richard Rosson di- 
rector's pact. 

Grand National handed Edward 
McNamara term pact. 

David Praskin sealed as composer- 
arranger at Universal. 

Robert Pirosh and George Seaton, 
writing team, signed for stretch at 
Metro. 

Paramount ticketed George Ar- 
chainbaud to director pact. 

Option on Arthur Lang, musical 
director and arranger, lifted at 20th- 
Fox. 

Alma Kruger set for stretch at 
Universal. 

Writing ticket of Sig Herzing 
tilted for year at WB. I 

Termer handed Samuel S. Hinds 
at Universal. 

Warners added Helen Valkis to 
stock company. 



Stock Market 



(Continued from page C) 



hew highs. Universal ' common 
climbed fractionally, but the pre- 
ferred retreated to 101%. 

Two amusement bonds registered 
new peaks, Paramount Pictures 6s 
getting to 98%, and Paramount- 
Broadway 3s advancing IY2 to 64. 
Keith 6s rallied iy 4 to 96. 

With two major groups in the mar- 
ket breaking through with a show 
of decisiveness on the upside, the 
stock market at the end of last week 
showed more promise than it has for 
several weeks. Trading in the amuse- 
ment list was featured by smart 
gains and new highs for a fair col- 
lection of stocks and the failure of 
several issues to better their old 
peaks. . 

The Amusement Group climbed to 
47%, but failed ft} equal the old high 
around 47%, as rrteasuted by the av- 
erages. The group finished the week 
at slightly above. 46%': for a gain of 
0.760 of a point, for the week. The 
low mark was just below 45%. Im- 
proved position of the group was 
made on a nice increase in volume, 
more than 325,000 .shares changing 
hands. 

Seven new 1936 tops were record- 
ed by stocks, while three amusement 
bonds hit new highs,; The stocks, to- 
gether with their new high marks 
and gains on the week,, were Para- 
mount common, at 13%, up 37%c; Par 
first preferred, at 98%, a gain of 2%j 
Paramount 2nd pfd., at 12y 8 , down 
an eighth; Columbia Broadcasting, 
at 61 as asking price, up 2%; 
Westinghouse common, at 149%, up 
8%; Westinghouse pfd., at 151%, a 
gain of 3%; and Zenith, at 40%, up 
50c. 

Industrials went to new highs on 
three successive days starting Friday. 
Dow-Jones industrial averages 
closed *at 172.81, a gain of 4.02 points 
on week. 

The bonds and their new highs 
were Paramount-Broadway 3s, - at 
62%; Paramount Pictures 6s, at 98%, 
and RKO liens,, at 88%. 

Outstanding in last week's market 
was the continued splendid action of 
the three Paramount issues and 
sparkling performances turned in by 
amusement stocks that have either 
been inactive or backward in recent 
trading sessions. 

The most startling advance was 
made by Paramount 1st pfd., which 
sported a gain of nearly 5. points at 
its new peak. The stock -never- 
sagged below the close of the previous 
week, and in the face of general 
profit-taking Monday (5) held above 
96. ■ ■ -" 

The common kept on advancing 
until it hit 13%, which price repre- 
sented an advance of nearly a full 
point. Though the second preferred 
edged to a new top .at 12%, it sel- 
dom kept pace with the common. It 
closed at 12% as against the final 
quotation of 13% for the common. 

Columbia Pictures ctfs., which has 
been a laggard compared with other 
film issues, snapped back early in 
the week to hit 42, where it was 
nearly 4 points above the preceding 
week's close. Such advance was a 
logical development after recent 
marking time. The preferred, how- 
ever, failed to show up especially 
well, never going above 48 and show- 
ing a fractional loss at the blow-off. 

Eastman Kodak common, which 



for weeks has been a backward actor 
on the amusement list and even as 
compared with other gilt-edge issues, 
staged a fine comeback near the 
close. After going to 172 on Satur- 
day (3), the stock again pushed 
ahead in Monday's session to hit 
174%. At the finish, it showed a gain 
of 5%. points. 

Radio Corp stocks and Columbia 
Broadcasting issues which have been 
trailing the general market in re- 
cent weeks, also came to life. The 
advance of Columbia Broadcasting 
stocks was the more sensational be- 
cause "most of the gains were made 
in Mondav's trading, the advance of 
the 'A' stock that day representini? 
a gain of more than 2 points. Close 
was 59%, bid price, with 61, as 
asking pri \ both of which con- 
stituted new peaks for 1936. 

After again dipping to lO'/i, Radia 
common came back smartly on Fri- 
day and Saturday to finally reach 
11%. The first preferred followed 
the common but recorded its high on 
Monday, when this stock hit 73%, an 
advance of 1% points for the week. 

Other material gains included 
Westinghouse .common, up 8%; pre- 
ferred, up 3%; "Warner Bros, pfd, uo 
1 point; American Seating, up 1: 
Madison Square Garden, up 1%, and 
General Electric, up 1%. 

Failure of either 20th Century-Fox 
stocks, Loew common and Warner 
Bros, common to break through old 
resistance levels was disappointing 
to some traders. However, to the 
shrewd trader this at least partially 
indicated only that interest for the 
time being is centered in other pic- 
ture Issues. Situation pertaining to ' 
all of these remains as favorable as 
it has been in recent weeks. Con- 
sequently, all four stocks are ex- 
pected to give excellent accounts of 
themselves in forthcoming weeks. 

Declaration of the dollar dividend 
on 20th-Fox common had little or no 
effect onjhe stock, current prices ap- 
parentlyhaving discounted upwards 
this divvy to a certain extent. Fact 
that such a large sum" was -declared 
outright as an initial payment may 
bring further flurries oh the upside 
before ex-dividend date passes. It 
is Oct. 16, with actual payment com- 
ing later in the month. 

The sustained drive of RKO de- 
bentures was an outstanding feature 
of the bond list. These obligations 
made new highs for the year on suc- 
cessive days starting on Wednesday, 
when they Wt 83%. Celling was 
reached on Saturday* when the 
bonds went to 88%; which price rep- 
resented an advance of 7% points. 

Action of Paramount-Broadway 
bonds followed a! similar pattern, 
peak being bit on Saturday, at 62%. 
At the final price Monday, these 
liens were up 2% points. 

The strength in Paramount Pic- 
tures obligations was anticipated 
after the recent technical reaction 
which carried them down around 
96. New .high was at 96%, with the 
bonds sporting a gain of nearly a 
point at the finish. This sustained 
strength gave some support to th~ 
theory that the liens might touch 
par before the close of the month. 

Loew 3%s were practically un- 
changed at 98%. Warner Bros. 6s 
showed a gain of , 50c. at 97 after 
flirting with old hichs earlier in the 
week. Only soft soot was Keith 6s, 
which dipped 1%, to 94%. 



Summary for week ending: Monday, Oct. 5: 



STOCK EXCHANGE 



STORY BUYS 

Hollywood, Oct. 6. 
Paramount purchased 'Crash,' 
automobile yarn by J. Robert Bren 
and Norman Houston. 

'New Orleans,' by Jean Negulesco, 
sold to Universal. 

Buck Jones purchased Cherry Wil- 
son's novel, 'Sandflow.' 



Tomlin Musiker Sol 

Hollywood, Oct. 6. 
Pinky Tomlin starts his first mu- 
sical for Melody Pictures, Oct. 15. 
No director has been signed. 

Sherman Lowe and Al Martin 
scripted while Tomlin and Connie 
Lee wrote the five songs for the 
film. 



High. 

«!4 
51 Vi 
7% 
SO'.'* . 

;ss% 
ih:> 

Kid 
4S% 

27% 

WS% 
M'i- 
13% . 
I>8% 
12% 
1174 
1414 

so 

32% 

41 

115 

14% 

03% 
I"4!t% 
IS 114 

40% 



I03C 

J.ow. 
IS 
31 
43 
4!A 

. ir.% 

ir.it 
1.-.2 

8414 

17 

4:1 

l(«li 

H% 
7% 

5U 
Wt 
H% 
«% 

GKV4 
ft 

22% 

at% 
50 
014 
4* 

»4!4 
123% 
11% 



Sales. 

3.300 
18,000 
800 

2, 'JOO 

3, (100 
5,700 
2,200 

10 
70,0110 
10,100 
14.000 
100 
4,000 
143,(100 
10,000 
31.000 
0,300 

m.soo 

1>.S00 
30,500 
.12,1*00 
12;800 

70 
80,500 
2A0 
21,100 

00 
14,000 



Issue and rate. 

American Heat...; 

Col, P. vt<\ H>* 

Col. PIcl. pfd. (2>i) 

Consol. Film 

Consol. IHlm pfd. (I)t 

Cms ley C/i)i 

Kb at man Kodak \'>)t ....... . 

Do. j>f<l. m 

Gen. Bier. (It * 

Ken. Then. Kn 

Loew <2>t,. 

Do. nfd. (fl»4) • 

Mudlsoii S<l. Canlen (COc.)t. 
Paramount 

Do. 1st pM 

Do. 2d pTii 

Pa the 

Raitlo Corp... 

Radio 1st pfO. (314)... ...... 

RKO 

20th Cent.-Kox U)t 

Do. pfil. (114)i.. •••• 

Universal »M 

Warner Bros 

- Do. - pM 

WeBjliDChouse (214>t t 

Do.''. pM. (3',i) 

Zenith 



High. 
... 24% 
... 42 
... 4S 
... 4ft 
... "18 

... :u% 
.. nw t 

... WV& 
... 47 s4 
.... 2714 
... W)% 
. . . 10014 
... 1214. 
... 113% 
... . !!«% 
|I2% 
... »14 
... 1H4 
... 7»14 
... 7% 
... Sl% 
... 80% 
... 10M4 
... 14 
... in 

...1140% 

...nr.114 
... |io% 



Ijiw. 

2814 

■M 

4716 

4>/4 

J 711 
»2% 
Hi.) 

jc:;',4 
4.1 

2.V.<. 

3714 
J 0814 . 

10H, 

12V» 

l«14 

12 
7% 

1014 

7» 
714 

30% 

WHi 
103 

1314 

C2 
110 
lift 

8814 



Lost. 
24% 
44»'A 
47% 
4% 
17% 
3314 
17414 
1«8!4 
47% 
2(1 

r,HH 

1WI14 
121fc. 
13% 
!M(!4 
1214 

S 
11 
7314 

7% 
31% 

•■me 

103 
13% 
(B 

140% 
1*1% 



Nef 
elm 

+1 

+2%. 

— ) . 

+ i- 

-M 

4I-. . 
—IT. 

— '.„ 



+ C. 
4* 

, > '. . 

+ 

+ ',4 

+1'-. 

+ V 

— 

- ?4 

+ %' 
+ 1 
+8"t 

+»"■ 
-Hi 



* Plus slook dividends, 
t Paid this yar. 
t Plus onsh extns. 
i New 10W high. 



CUKB 



iT, 

4% 
S214 

314 
12',4 



!«»% 

«2% 
OK'l 



Bid.- 

w 



30 

2% 
17% 
. 3% 

414 



02 >i 
!M 

nr. 
x;t 
113 

HI} 



Asked, 
JOB 



200 Columbia P|c(h. (1)*...., 4114 

8,300 Grand Nations! 4% 

4,400 Ter-hnlcnlor 27% 

1,100 Translux (20C.M : 3% 

1,000 Universal 1» • 



BONDS 



SI4.000 
100,000 

33,000 
270,000 

30.000 
131,000 



Keith Os. '40... ; 0014 

Loew aii's, '40 »!( 

Par-Broadway 3m. '05 t02% 

Paramount (is, 'SB J0K% 

RKO debs Us t8H% 

Warner Bros/ (is, ......... . 07!1 



40 



01% 

IIH14 
(10% 

iir.% 
ao 



4l'f. +2'' 

:».% _ a- 

20% - r 

,3 : H - 11 
O 



01% 
02 % 

'.mvi 
ns% 

07 



—I". 

- 

+2' 

+t r - 

n. 



OVER THE COUNTER, NEW YORK 



dil. Broadrsst, a (2)... 
Pullie 1<\ pfd. i7).... 



* Plus sioi-k dividends, 
t Paid this year. 

* New IMS, high. 



10 



VARIETY 



Wednesday, October 7, 1936 




as a 



■ 1 





",IC 



-MAYER'S 



Wednesday* October 7, " 1936 



PI C TO RE S 



VARIETY 



29 



FRENCH UNION 
MAY EMULATE 





; . The campaign of the Musicians' 
tJnioft, Local 802, New York, may 
not only become a national but an 
international issue, with France dis- 
playing interest in what 802 is at- 
tempting to do to restore flesh to the- 
atres. The French union, known as 
the Syndicate des Artistes de Paris, 
has designated two delegates to con- 
fer with 802 ha person and get all 
data in connection with the .drive 
$he New York union is fostering. 
" These delegates are Syndicate des 
'Artistes' itiembers who are playing- 
on the S, 8. Normandie. Informa- 
tion to Local 802 is that Paris union 
Readers believe a similar campaign 

Sight be' advantageously staged in 
e French capital. 



Indies Buying 



(Continued from page 5) 



" Next month's pictures are already 
being booked in general through- 
out the town, and exhibs finding 
themselves facing . blank dates;'' in 
tfieif booking sheets are no longer 
holding out but are talking terms on 
next 'season's contracts. 
• With the last two weeks in No- 
vember indicating the finale of last 
season's- contracts which forbade 
double billing, it Is generally ex- 
pected that Balaban & Katz will 
Start twin, featuring around Nov. 15. 
B. & JC has kept pretty secretive 
about this move, but expects to 
crack the news of the bargain bills 
in a big spread and flgures that the 
effect will be best if it comes as 
something of a surprise, , ; 

November's pictures oft .the new 
product are already, being booked 
with the extra week of protection 
allowed the 30c houses, which marks 
the victory for B. & B/s two-year 
campaign for this additional clear- 
ance. Allied's members, however, 
have, not admitted defeat on this, 
measure ' and are -still planning tp 
go ahead with the counter action. 
Despite rumors of several' indie ex- 
hibs breaking away, the bulk of the 
indie exhibs affected are readying to 
go to court to seek a federal in- 
junction against B. & B. and the 
distributors. 

Some 50 or 60 exhibs are in. the 
campaign which takes in about 125 
houses. Joe Rosenberg of Rosen- 
berg,. Toomin & Stein, active at- 
torney in the case, is drawing paper 
and believes they will be filed this 
week. 



Yes and No in NW 

Minneapolis, Oct. 6. 

. Northwest allied States members 
revealed in answers to question- 

. naires^that they're still only buying 
enough film to satisfy current needs; 
that no single' distributor has a 
standard selling policy for all ex- 
hibitors; and that Metro and 20th- 
Fox -have been selling when neces- 
sary without percentages, M-Q in 
f ome f^?3£S? cutting its percentage 
■ erms g§jF^O to 35%, according! to 

, s - D. lp&&£xecutive secretary. But 
the dggRlttgfe heads say it isn't so. 
They declare they- have sold most of 
the: accounts, that their business is 
ahead -of last year and that they 
e % It^clard policy. 
Moe&rai&jy, 20th-Fox exchange 
^ ead ;Jra;s7 , it always has been the 
c .°mR48jj(?s x fpolicy to sell percentage 
Picture* 6n a straight -rental basis in 
town* too' smaH-idr warrant" the ex- 
pense* of checking and that policy 
has b^ien pursued currently. The 
company \ has a standard sales' 
policy, -but contract terms , are 'dif- 
ferent;, jaccordirig to the size of the 
town Ji&d classification of. the the- 
atre, he points- out, *He says only a 
lew Twin^dity pofcaibOities and out- 
of-town exhibitors are still unsold. 

W. H. Workman, Metro branch 
manager, avers his company has not 
rnade any deals without percentage. 
Business in the territory has ex- 
ceeded that of last year and one 
half of the possible Twin City . ac 
counts already have been sold and 
the Minneapolis and St. Paul ex- 
hibitors are being sold as fast as 
they can be interviewed, he says, 

•The company does have a. standard 
tales policy, according to Workman 



Lone Balto Daaler Folds, 
Town Now 100% Singles 

Baltimore, Oct 0. 
Baltimore, one of the last frontier 
towns in which dual pix are not 
shown, successfully outrode first and 
only threat to the status quo of sin- 
gle-feature bills when W k S. Finch 
shut down operation of the Palace, 
long-time burlesque barn, yesterday 
(Monday) after 12 days* running of 
two features and a comedy at 10-15c. 
Finch, Reading, Pa., exhib, had the 
Palace on rental arrangement. Dur- 
ing the short-lived operation his 
grosses averaged only about $65 
daily; nut ran close to $1^800 per 
week. 

Since all major film companies 
have clause in contracts with thea- 
tres here that they cannot dual prod- 
uct, the exchanges turned down 
Finch cold on selling him any prod- 
uct- at alL including shorts. The bet- , 
ter grade and larger indie producing 
companies also refused to sell exhib 
their' films for dualing at such, cellar- 
level prices in heart of downtown 
area. As result , grade of pix of- 
fered was pretty low, and had no 
lure in a town where there are only 
six; houses offering first-run films in 
downtown area, and where indie 
pix. get but couple of showings a 
year when one of the. spots makes a 
direct- buy of a desirable flicker of 
indie origin. \ . . 

Last three days of his Palace op- 
eration, Finch reduced his b.o. top to 
a dime, but move stimulated trade 
not a trifle; 



PICTURES PILE UP, 
FRANKLIN DROPS VAUD 



Hollywood, Oct. 8. 

In order to use up accumulation of 
independent product bought for the 
1935-38 season, J. J. Franklin, visit 
ing here from Honolulu; asserts that 
he's dropping flesh shows from at 
least two of his island 'deluxers for 
next three months. 

Franklin is going to San Francisco 
for short stay before proceeding to 
New York to prosecute his damage 
action against Warners in the U. S, 
district court; in which he alleges 
breach of contract for his Hawaiian 
circuit- 



Censorship 



(Continued from page 4) 



last named metropolis, the- censor- 
ship applies to only film shown on 
Sunday. But this means that virtual- 
ly every picture goes through the 
hopper which is operated in the state 
public safety department 

Only one organization openly 
fighting censorship, with more or 
less bombastic efforts. However, this 
association annoys .censorship boards 
by publishing a list of eliminations 
made. 



Rubbin' It In 



Lincoln, Oct 6. 

Tom Gentry and his Ambas- 
sadors hit upon stark reality 
here this week with their 
theme tune. Gentry, who always 
ducks out to the state prison to 
give the cons a show; when in 
the territory, made the usual 
trip while laying off here last • 
week. ■ ' 

He opened the show withr 
'Time on My Hands,*: the band's 
.theme, and got applause. 




Community Corp 




. N. Y. Not as Optimistic 

Industry leaders in New York City 
were not so optimistic over possibili- 
ties of abolishing boards of censor- 
ship. They point to. the fact that 
state censor boards are self-support- 
ing in virtually all instances; they 
continue to be an important factor 
in the majority political party's 
patronage set-up, and there is no in- 
clination, on the part of the party in 
power to disturb this portion of its 
patronage system. 

Best chance to eliminate these 
boards, in the opinion of numerous 
leaders, will be for a smart minority 
opposition leader to wage war on the 
censorial boards as being useless un- 
der present conditions. Drive in 
some states to trim expenses might 
also be used as an excuse, although 
generally rated as having little 
chance of finding favor because of 
the self-sustaining, angle of the 
boards. 

.' While many .exhibitor chieftains 
regard censorship as an 'empty ges- 
ture,' they are inclined to be pessi- 
mistic over prospects of abolishing 
the boards. Reason they claim the 
censor boards mean little or nothing 
is that their only reason for exist- 
ence is that they improve the morals 
'of' the. people"; 'Th|se exhibs poirtt;to 
Spain and France,' where strict cen- 
sorship prevails, as the most flagrant 
examples of censor board's failure to 
fulfill their mission of improving the 
populace's morals. 

How the censorship boards justify 
themselves on expense is best typi- 
fied by the New York board. The 
outlay for expenditures has been 
only $60,000 to $70,000 recently, with 
the board showing a net profit of 
three times that figure. for many 
years. ■ 



Walter Reade and associates have 
formed a company to construct at 
least 100 houses in towns or cities of 
over 5,000 population. American 
Community Theatres Corp. has 
Reade, New York and New Jersey 
operator of theatres, as its president 
His associates are L. N. Olmstead, 
y.p. of American. Seating Co.; Frank 
V. Storrs. banker and realtor asso 
dated with" Reade for many years; 
Carl E. Schuster, statistician; Thomas 
W. Lamb, theatre architect and 
Charles J. Bryan, associated ..with 
Reade for 30 years, and Walter 
Reade, Jr. 

Company starts out by budgeting 
$500,000 to. carry out initial building 
plans, with, seven - houses to be' 
started within the next 30 days in 
locations within 200 miles of New 
York. Expectation is that between 
20 and 25 houses will be complete* 
the first year. Goal is at least lOO 
theatres inside of five years, all to 
be personally financed by Reade and 
his associates, in American . Com 
munity. All "houses will be built 
from plans supplied by Lamb. 

No house will seat less than 600 
nor more- than 1,000 and, in all in- 
instaoces, 'seats will be op one floor, 
balconies being eliminated. Con 
struction will envision the pos 
sibflity of third dimension, television 
and the value to. theatres now of 
radio, broadcasting, plan being to 
start, out by including important 
radio broadcasts as part of programs. 
In Reade's own theatres in New 
York ' and Jersey, which are not a 
part; Of the new building project 
Reade turned off all projection ma 
chines Thursday night (1) so that 
President Roosevelt's speech could 
be tuned in for the film customers. 
Reade believes that when important 
broadcasts are scheduled, it is 
operating wisdom to provide those 
programs at theatres in order* to 
keep people from staying home, 
away from theatres, to listen to 
them. 



Par Mulls Special Foreign Newsreels 
Strictly for Nationalistic Audiences 



MICH 0. STUDES RUSH 
CINEMAS; SOME DAMAGE 



Detroit JQct 6. 
Climaxing a big football rally, 
more than 2,000 University of Michi- 
gan students attempted to crash the 
Majestic .and Michigan theatres in 
Ann Arbor last Friday (2), tore 
down signs and . smashed electric 
light bulbs. 

Enthusiastic over chances of the 
Wolverine eleven against Michigan 
State the following day (Michigan 
State won 21 to 7), studes ,' surged 
from Hill Aude in a renewal of old- 
time theatre-crashing activities!' The- 
atre attendants, however, were able 
to turn away the shouting mob 
without aid of police, and with only 
a few hundred dollars damage. 



v Pittsburgh,. Oct 6. 

Judge Challen W. Waychoff, of the 
Greene County Courts, over the 
weekend handed down an 'opinion, 
declaring a 'local, option* yote held 
on Sunday pix 'in nearby - Waynes^ 
burg, r >Pa., in which Sunday films 
were- banned, .'was illegal because the 
question had not been submitted to 
voters on a separate ballot, ' 

He ruled that placing the question 
on a separate ballot was mandatory 
and directed th^t another election 
on the question be held next month. 
Communities Which turned down 
Sunday pix last fall are not per- 
mitted to submit the question again 
for five years. 



L. A. Hands' 10-15% 



Los Angeles, Oct 6. 

Wage increases, affecting; JOtt tnen, 
totaling 10% for heads of depart- 
ments and 15% for extra help, have 
been put into effect in all first rnhs 
and deluxers by Stagehands, Local 
33, International Alliance of Theat- 
rical Stage Employes. 

Local 33 execs are working in con- 
junction with musicians and" motion 
picture projectionists to formulate a 
scale for indie houses using amateur 
talent for shows. 



Paramount is thinking of adjust- 
ing its newsreel operations. No 
change of manpower is entailed. 
Partly, the company's purpose in 
this regard seems to be to cut oper- - 
ating costs and at the same time en- 
hance 1 the potential earning power of 
the newsreel abroad. 

A practical operating method is 
being" sought by which Paramount 
shall 'be enabled to provide special- 
ized nationalistic newsreel . enter- 
tainment such as may be required by 
foreign nationals. Instead of a sin- 
gle reel, the company may choose 
to" have two dominant newsreels — 
one domestic, the other foreign. 

The foreign newsreel may be sub- 
divided info several autonomous di- 
visions, all under the direct super- 
visory power and direction of Par's 
fpreign department This department 
is headed-, by John W. Hicks, Jr., 
vice-president of the firm. He is in 
Europe now/ . 

London, Paris and Central Europe 
might have their separate Para- 
mount newsreels. Australia would 
be linked witjbr London, and perhaps,- 
for the South American market spe- 
cial clips , would also be made. 
. The foreign end of the Par news- 
reel stands the company an estimated 
$300,000 yearly. It is profitable on 
the domestic end. 

. Such a changeover, if made, could 
have no visible adverse effect on the 
domestic end, but rather, would tend 
to improve the financial showing of 
the domestic newsreel, as the foreign 
department of the company thus 
would absorb the operating costs of 
the foreign newsreel. 

It . seems likely that Pararnount's 
final action in this regard depends 
upon what Hicks- may recommend, 
since, being in Europe at present it 
is presumed he is making a study of 
the situation, among other things, 
which have taken him abroad. 



Picketing Test Suit 



Rochester, N. Y., Oct. 6. 
H. .William Thompson, Lyric thea- 
tre, assails constitutionality of the 
State's so-called anti-injunction law of 
1935, in opposing appeal of operators' 
union from an order limiting picket- 
ing at the theatre to one man at 
a time. 

Decision from Which the union ap- 
pealed to the Appellate Division 
was granted last April by Supreme 
Court Justice William F. Love, who 
referred to the' law as an 'amazing 
statute.' Justice Love held the quar- 
rel at the theatre was not a 'labor 
dispute' within the meaning of the 
law, as Thompson now operates his 
own machine and employs no union 
labor. 



Fox Hearing 



(Continued from page 5) 



Now Propose Theatre for 
85th and Madison in N. Y. 

Thomas Lamb, theatre architect 
has filed an application ' with the 
Board of Standards and Appeals of 
N. Y. City for a variation of the ex- 
isting Building Zone Resolution to 
permit construction of a theatre at 
85th street -and Madison avenue. 
. Hearing on the application will be 
heard by' the board on Oct. 20. "fhis 
is the third such application in which 
Lamb has become involved. Other 
two are for the Goelet and Phipps 
Estates at 65th street and Madison 
and 58th street and Park avenues 
respectively. Both applications 
have been opposed by the Fifth Av- 
enue Association and License Com 
missioner Moss.' Latter two, already 
in the court case stage, are being 
heard this week in N. Y. supreme 
court 



therefore no entry Was necessary 
when I gave it back." 

Fox. said no one was present when 
he gave the' money to his father in 
a New York hotel room late in 1934. 
The father died last Fall. Fox said 
he gave his father the- cash because 
the latter insisted that he get his 
money back in the same form as he 
turned it over to his son. 

The $300,000 for his father , came 
from $200,000 he- borrowed from his 
brother-in-law, Jack G. Leo, six 
months previously, and $80,000 he re- 
ceived from other sources, Fox 
claimed. This is the same brother- 
in-law, Fox said, to whom, he had 
made a cash gift of $200,000 two 
years before, and who had - threat- 
ened to sue him six months later 
when he failed to meet the $200,000 
note and had taken over the secur- 
ity put up for the loan. •-. ' 

Two Federal Agents, Everett 
Partridge and Eugene O'Dunne, of 
Washington, heard Fox testify. The 
agents were from the Department of 
Internal Revenue, which weeks to 
collect $3,000,000 from Fox in Income 
taxes. 

Meanwhile in Camden, N. J„ Fed- 
eral Judge John Boyd Avis handed 
down a ruling that the All-Con- 
tinent may not sue Hiram Steelman, 
trustee appointed by the bankruptcy 
court. 

Judge Avis held that he had no 
power to restrain the suit in Federal 
District Court in Philadelphia 
against the others named in the bill 
Of equity. They -are- John S. Wynn,- 
J. W. Spears St Co., Philadelphia 
brokers, and the Capital Co. of New 
York. 

The All-Continent is suipg to re 
cover $297,000 in securities held by 
Spears and prevent the others from 
obtaining . them in settlement of 
claims against All'Continent and 
Fox. 

Judge Avis also ruled that the 
books of All-Continent should be 
made available to examiners ap- 
pointed by Referee Steedle. 



SPENCER'S CANADIAN 
CHAIN ADDS 5 MORE 



St. John, N. B., Oct. 6. 
Five new links have been added to 
the F. G. Spencer chain of picture 
houses in the maritime provinces. 
At Middleton, N. S., Spencer circuit, 
which has its- head offices in its 
mother house, the Strand, St. John, 
N. B., has opened a newly built the- 
atre seating about 750. At Wolf- 
ville,- N. S., the Orpheum, seating 
700, has been taken over by the cir- 
cuit, • and reopened after, several 
Weeks of reconditioning. At Bridge- 
water, N. S., the Orpheum has been 
purchased and reopened after about 
a: month of repairs and installation 
of new sound equipment. At Hali- 
fax, N. S., the Orpheus, in operation 
in the heart of the city for 25 years, 
has been leased by Spencer firm. 
House was owned by Spencer 20 
years ago, but he sold it 14 years 
ago to the Nickel Theatre Co., cur- 
rent owner, and is thus in the posi- 
tion of leasing a house he once 
owned. 

W. A. Affleck and N. V. Gaston- 
guay, co-managers for several years, 
are retiring with the advent of 
Spencer back into -Halifax. Capitol, 
Amherst, N. S., was recently built 
and opened as the 15th link in the 
Spencer chain. " Personally in charge 
of the acquisitions and openings of 
the new* houses in the circuit have 
been Fred G. Spencer, president .and 
founder, and A. A. Fielding, .general 
manager of F. G. Spencer <£o.' ; A 
rigid policy of the Spencer circuit i3 
to cencentrate: exclusively on th.e ex- 
hibition of films, all programs being 
sans flesh. 



B&K WOULD ENFORCE 
ST. L. THEATRE DEAL 



Chicago. Oct.- 0.' 

Balaban Si Katz-Great States cir- 
cuit has filed suit in St. Louis against 
the owners of the Welston theatro 
there, for specific performance of a 
deal which B. & K.-Grcat States 
claims was entered into. 

B. St K^Great States alleges a deal 
for the house on a 15-year lease but 
that the theatre was turned over to 
a third party. Now seeks to make 
the owners turn the house over on 
the original lease deal. 



so 



VARIETY 



Wednesday, October 7, 19.16 






V,, 



\ v.v * '■'■""OSS 
<•;■>;■:■;■:■: «■ ■■ »>ra| 



A glorious romance, and 
Arliss, as a fascinating 
woman-hating Rajah . . . 




%w< 1 



■ li-l 



GEORGE ARLISS 
EAST meets WEST 

with LUCIE MANNHEIM • Godfrey Tearie • Romney Breni 

Directed by Herbert Mason • Story by E. Greenwood 



TOPS 
'EM ALL 




Canada Distributors 
IBMPIKE FILMS, Ltd. 



Wednesdays October 7* 1936 



PICT 



E S 



VARIETY 



31 



Film Reviews 




LA BELLE EQUIPE 

ntimied from page IB) 

, make this a good b.o. bet 
country. Will appeal to the 
layers' because what takes 
iuld happen to anyone and its 
p interpretation, if nothing 
11 catch those in the upper 

of the dialog could be cut 
hindering the whole and 
jjtion could be injected in sev- 
fe'nes for the better but, alto- 
s'. Duvivier has turned out a 
« here that should go well. 

• down and out. unemployed 
f n suddenly find themselves 

of a lottery ticket that has 
100,000 francs. Jean Gabin, 
as the leader, persuades them to 
pool their gains and exploit some 
business. They decide on the French 
" ' lent of a road house. They 

• spot on the river Mame with 
spacious ground and river 

fas added attractions. Five 
jegin. work to reconstruct a 
_ "down chateau that is on their 
newly acquired property. But suc- 
cess . is not to be theirs and their 
downfall is the picture. 

First of the five disappears because 
■he is in love with another's fiancee. 
Second is forced to leave because he 
is a foreigner whose papers are not 
in order. Third falls" from the roof 
during a picnic previous to. the open- 
ing and is "killed. 

Jean Gabin and Charles Vanel are 
left and Viviarie Romance, as the 
4 wife' Of the latter, intercedes to 
tiring a tragic ending. She does 
commendable work as the small- 
bisque photograph model and 
' i;.du mond. Having left Vanel 
h she shows up at the road 
Awhile work is in full swing to 
ff^her Part of the lottery "money, 
fe -helpless in her hands, gives 
Mie money from the' common 
t$)ox. When Gabin .learns of 
fis goes to get it back. ' 
jiev three handle ensuing com- 
^jjjiejitions' with convincing forceful- 




Ufam" Beall Chosen 
Managing Editor for 
k Fawcett Magazines 




W. H.. Fawcett, president of 
Fawcett Publications. Inc., has 
followed up N his appointment o£ 
Harry Hammond Beall as man- 
aging; editor ofi . the Fawcett 
Hollywood Group, Including 
Screen Play, Screen JBook, Movie 
v Classics and Hollywood maga- 
j nines, by authorizing expansion 
Jin pages, color, photographic in- 
* s.erts, and purchase of articles 
. regarding film capital and Its 
^celebrities from ace writers. 
fLarry Reld continues as editor 
pf Motion Picture and Ralph 
.jDalgh handles Romantic Movie 
;j Stories. These last two are 
■^edited in the New York office, 
; )Ugh up in the Paramount build- 
ing. 

In addition to his newspaper 
and magazine editorships of the 
past twenty years, BeaU has at- 
tained recognition as an inter- 
national publicist with Philip- 
pine Independence, Dollar Steam- 
ship Lines, repeal of probihltion, 
.'Xatlonal Orange Show, and other 
major events and campaigns. 

He began his picture career .20 
years ago as press representative 
for two nickelodeons In down- 
town Los Angeles; became Uni- 
versal City's first publicity di- 
rector; later ballyhooed Thomas 
H. Ince, Sol Lesser and other 
producers; directed exploitation 
activities for numerous stars; 
was western editor of Qulgley 
publications, and contributed ar- 
ticles on cinema subjects to na- 
tional magazines. 

"Mr. Fawcett plans to make 
his group the outstanding fan 
magazines of the world, and -be- 
sides giving me carto blanche 
in the matter of big names for 
stories, has authorized staff ex- 
pansion in Hollywood, including 
staff writers, photographers, ar- 
tists, cartoonists and reviewers," 
Beal| stated. 



ness. Vanel, a powerful man, vic- 
*™. of . a woman's selfish wishes 
uabm, honest comrade who wants to 
help his friend free himself and 
Miss Romance, the spiteful deceiver 
who declares vengeance on Gabin 
because he won't fall in love with 
ner. 

^ Presenting herself on the opening 
day of the roadhouse, she convinces 
Vanel that Gabin is the cause of the 
disappearance of the other three and 
makes him accuse Gabin. Latter, 
unable to believe what he is being 
told, shoots his friend and is taken 
away by the police. 

While. Gabin carries the entire pic 
Vanel portrays the slow thinking 
Workman to a high degree of per- 
fection. Charpin as the policeman 
deserves mention. Hugo. 

DISHONOR BRIGHT 

(BRITISH MADE) 

London, Sept. 23. 
General Film Distributors release of 
Capltol-Cecil production. Stars Tom Walls- 
features Betty Stocked. Eugene Pallette! 
Directed by Tom Walls. Story and dialoif. 
Ben Iravers; camera. Phil Tannurn. At 
Phoenix, London, Sept. 22, '30. Running 
time, 83 mins. 

Stephen Champion Tom Walls 

?? s ° y ....EuKene PaJlette 

Slella.... Betty Stockfeld 

Ivy Lamb Diana Churchill 

Vincent Crane Cecil Parker 

J" , ee ...Arthur Wontner 

ir' a ' e , ...... .Geonre Snnders 

£ amb : ...Hubert Harben 

Blenklnsop Henry Oscar- 
Lady Melbury Mabel Terrv Lewis 

H? nr y Crane Basil Itadford 

Miss Tapp ■ Charlotta Leigli 

Cabaret Dancer Jenl le Qon 

ii ouls V. Michael Morel 

Commissionaire.. .Denis Val Norton 
Cabaret Singer Bernardl 

Bedroom comedy of a quality of 
which Hollywood • would not be 
ashamed. With stellar values it 
would have been a pushover. Even 
in its existing shape it is a highly 
titillating piece of merchandise, ex- 
pertly produced and neatly directed, 
that will tickle the more sophisticat- 
ed audience on both sides of the At- 
lantic, but will need high pressure 
salesmanship to attract cash cus- 
tomers. 

Tom Walls, one of those local guys 
who fancy themselves both as di- 
rector and star, has for once revealed 
a nice megaphone technique which 
does not concentrate on giving him- 
self all the limelight. Maybe the rea 
son is the more coherent than usual 
script that Ben Travers gave him to 
work on, or maybe it is the fact that 
every part is played straight, so that 
the comedy situations get the maxi- 
mum punch. Story moves smoothly 
against vivid backgrounds that gen- 
erate the correct atmosphere with 
remarkable success. 

Walls is co-respondent in a big di- 
vorce case and, after 1 a violent at- 
tack 1 y the plaintiff's lawyer, finds 
himself faced with big damages. He 
marries Diana Churchill, defendant 
in the case, but is attracted to Betty 
Stockfeld, wife of the lawyer, Cecil 
Parker." Walls and,-"TOiss Churchill 
go to Switzerland honeymooning, 
where they meet Betty. Stockfeld, 
who has got herself in the clutches 
of an adventurer. Walls seizes the 
chance to protect her, purely in a 
platonic way, but Parker suspects an 
intrigue, especially when he finds 
Walls in his wife's bedroom. Ex- 
planations show . Walls and Parker 
had misunderstood each other, and 
both married -couples are closer to- 
gether as a result. 

Star suffers in '.he opening scene 
by bad photography, but otherwise 
is in brisk form. He is very prettily 
supported by both leading ladies, 
Miss Churchill in particular catching 
the eye. Eugene Palletjte is grand in 
a crook part, and Cecil Parker plays 
the other husband so straight as to 
point it with telling effect. Minor 
cameos by Arthur Wontner, George 
Sanders, Michel . Morel and Basil 
Radford are highly praiseworthy. 

Opening shots show a faithfully re- 
produced British court of law, with 
later sequences chiefly played in 
luxury hotels and Alpine exteriors 
adding a spot of 'eye appeal. Phil 
Tannura's camerawork, except in hi.? 
close-ups r " Walls in the first reel, 
is fine, but the sound-track goes 
slightly rff at times. 



Ein Walzer Fuer Dich 

('A Waltz for You') 
(GERMAN MADE) 
(WITH SONGS) 

Fox release of Dr. V. Hartal production, 
features I^juIs Graveuse. jCanillla Horn, 
Heinz Jtuelimnnn. Directed by Ueoifr Zoch. 
Music, Will Melsel. At (lie Casino, N. Y,, 
week Sept 2.". "M. Running time, !K> jnlns. 

Antonio Torelll Louis Crave.ure 

fuerstin Mtefanle Camilla Horn 

BenJnmJn Cortes IJelnsi nuehmann 

Manja Tabanes Maria Saznrina 

Iixfucrslln von Palamo Ail-le Sandrock 

Flint Then. I.lnKen 

Baron Tabanes fi-llz Odennir 

Minister f'onto Wllhelm Henriow 

Minister Monies .Max Itall-Osleriimnii 

(7n German, with English Titles) 
An all-around meritorious produc- 
tion, 'A Waltz for You' is a cinch for 
the German market. Dr. V Badal 
(whose output is strung together un- 
der dcr UFA facilities) has lately 



made the Louis Graveure-Camilla 
Horn-Theo. Lingen combo a stand- 
ard one for his musical pix, and to 
good results. Names need no selling 
in the Teutonic nabes whatever, 
though other "markets are doubtful 
even with the adequate English 
titles. Too many U. S. products, 
just as good or better, and without 
the handicaps of language, are float- 
ing around. 

'A Waltz for You' is described as 
a fantasy* in the frontispiece, which 
is a polite way of saying that it's 
light' fairyland hoke. Yarn has teen 
used by just about every well-known 
light operetta scribbler in the biz. 
It's the one about the singer-prince 
who's called back to the throne of 
his country and winds up by marry- 
ing the princess whom he supplanted 
as monarch. There's only one vari- 
ation here, and that's slight — the 
married pair goes back to the con- 
cert stage instead of reigning hap- 
pily ever after in Palamo. 

With Graveure's impeccable war- 
bling, Camilla Horn's looks, and the 
comedy contrived by Lingen and 
Ruehmann, however, the plot can, 
and will be, disregarded as a neces- 
sary gesture to string sequences to- 
gether. There are some nifty side- 
lights to keep things moving smooth- 
ly. Topnotch in this respect is a 
scene in the cellar of the castle 
where Ruehmann and Maria Saz- 
arina get cockeyed on 'new wine 
after having put too much paprika 
on their food. This scene is played 
to hilt, and nif tily builds until it's 
the turning point of the story. 

Graveure has some good songs, and 
he renders them with all he's got 
Camilla Horn is assigned to strut 
her blonde pulchritude, which is a 
cinch for her. Lingen and Ruehmann 
are both adept in their comedy 
chores, with Maria Sazariha a viva- 
cious help. Adele Sandrock goes 
through her character part as the 
dour duchess. She does it as if it's 
a vaude act of long standing, and 
that's the way it's surefire. 

Camera and mounting are good. 
Theme song— A Waltz for You'— is 
catchy, but the other musical num- 
bers are merely rendered passively. 

Edga. 



ALIBI FOR MURDER 

Columbia production and release. Fea- 
tures William Gargan; Marguerite Church- 
ill. Directed by D. Ross Lederman. Story, 
Tom "Van Dycke. Camera, George Meehan. 
At Pox, Brooklyn, on double bill, week Oct 
1, '36. Running time, 61 mins. 

Perry Travis- William Gargan 

Lois Allen Marguerite Churchill 

Brainy Gene Morgan 

Billy Howard. John Galiaudet 

E. J, Kaston, Ttomalne Cnllender 

Sir Conrad Stava Egon Brecher 

Mrs. Foster....- ....Drue I-eyton 

Conroy , Wade Boteler 

McBrJde Delght Frye 

Harknejs., Raymond Lawrence 



. This is a one-murder mystery 
based on amateur sleuthing, and 
more talk than action. William Gar 
gan's presence is the picture's prin- 
ciple asset, but he over-talks to a 
point of boredom. 

Gargan plays a knowitall detec- 
tive, amateur, broadcaster by profes- 
sion, but snooper by instinct. This 
mike chatterer noses in on a scien- 
tist for an interview, just as the 
big man is murdered. The broad- 
caster falls for the dead 'man's sec- 
retary, as expected. She is Mar- 
guerite' Churchill, an unsecretary- 
like sec. 

Like his familiar predecessors the 
amateur sleuth has an 'assistant -who 
chatters aimlessly. This provides 
slight comedy effect. 

There's an auto chase in the dot. 
and the cops are, as usual, dumb. 

. Shan. 



talking to strangers, picture has the 
co-operation of the army and navy, 
as well as the flying corps. Demon- 
strates an efficient defence organiza- 
tion t.o deal swiftly with traitors. 

Action centers around professional 
spies who are busy getting informa- 
tion for another country. One of 
their men is sent >out with a fake 
passport to take a job in an.' air- 
plane factory. All goes well for him 
and he is trusted to try out a newly 
invented bombing plane, when his 
couhfojrfeit papers are found out. 
Thrilling pursuit by military air- 
planes starts and a veritable armed 
cruiser breaks off shooting practice 
and gets busy to bring him down. 

Equally exciting; with lots of ac- 
tion and adventure, is the handing 
over of important secret papers by 
Brockau, constructor of a big metal 
works, to the spies, who have learnt 
thrdugh his girl that he is hopelessly 
in debt. His fate is suicide after 
being hounded down. A third vic- 
tim is Klemm, a bank clerk, who 
serves his years with the colors and, 
through the carelessness of his bride, 
is close to being involved in a bad 
affair with the gang. He makes up 
his mind to tell everything to h;s 
captain and, through his confession, 
brings the scoundrels to justice. 

Picture is probably the biggest 
b.o. smash thus far made by the new 
Reich. 

Probably best in the cast are Willy 
Birgel, Heinz Welzel, Hudolf FernaU 
and Lida Baarova. Photography is 
up to high standard. 

MAEDGHEN IN WEISS 

('Girls in White') 

(GERMAN MADE) 

Berlin, Sept. 17. 
Maerklscbe-Panorama-Schnelder release of 
F.D.R. production. Features Maria Ccbo- 
lari, Ivan Petrovltch, Geortf AJexander, 
Hllde von Stolz. Directed by Victor Jan- 
son. From idea by Splndler and Kt ueger; 
book, Harald Bratt: music,' Theo Makeben; 
production chief, Hans von Wolzogen. At 
Atrium, Berlin, week Sept. 11, '36. Run- 
ning time, 05 mins. 

Daniela. Maria Cebotarl 

''Count Feodor Iwanowitsch , I van Petrovitrh 

Natalia...; ✓....Hllde von Stolz 

Grand Duke Sergei. .. v> .'. .Georg -Alexander 

Opera Director Ernst Dumc.ke 

General Goremkln Hnns .TuneVermann 

Irlna Use Fuerstenberg 

Cavllinl ...Norberlo Ardeill 

Vera. . , .Herthn. Worell 

Olga ; . . . .:\ , . Trude. Hn efel In 

Marina .Rosette Znbber 

Marlgna.no Rdunrd Wenk 

Maria PelrownAi ..... . .Mnrgarelhe Scliocn 

Lyflla Antonowna. ...... ..Blandine Eblnger 

Gllda Aenno von 121ms 



(In German) . 
While not exactly a second 'Maed- 
chen in Uniform' for world consump- 
tion, positive results seem indicated 
by the name draw of Maria .Cebotari, 
brilliant opera singer, who makes her 

UIIHIIWWIUMMmlHWIWW1HMIIimiMHIIntHllilHWWM1HIII1WB)IIHWtlWWII^ M IIimiMUHM ill 



film debut here and looks like go- 
ing places. 

It's another pre-war Russian film. 
'Maedchen in White' are aristocratio. 
pupils of the Smolny Institute in St. 
Petersburg. Girl dormitory is very 
highbrow and destined to educate the 
girls fittingly. One of the pupils, 
Daniela, has the talent of her dead 
mother, who was a famous singer, 
and she is secretly taking singing les- 
sons with the leader of the St. Pet- 
ersburg opera band. Her flancev 
Count Feodor Iwanowitch Schu- 
waloff, won't hear of her plans to 
become an opera singer. 

Daniela is induced to visit an opera 
performance in order to become 
acquainted with the famous tenor 
Cavallini. There she meets the 
Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrewitch 
in company with his girl friend Na- 
talia, a dancer, and he falls in love 
with Daniela when, after the per-' 
formance. he hears her sing in a 
night spot Nobody knows who she 
is, and she refuses a tempting offer 
for the opera house. Natalia gets 
very jealous when the Grand Duke 
is attracted by Daniela, who runs 
away from the restaurant when 
things become too lively. Natalia 
goes to the Smolny Institute the next- 
day to tell a quite different story of 
what happened, producing a valu- 
able jewel which Daniela had lost. 
Things get complicated, until the 
Grand Duke clears up the whole situ- 
ation, proving to Count Feodor that 
his fiance is quite innocent and that 
he made a bad blunder. 

Maria Cebotari plays the romantic . 
role of Daniela to good advantage. 
She has looks and a voice that spells 
fame. Ivan Petrovitch as her fiance 
is too .heroic and cold to convince. 
Excellent is Georg Alexander as the 
Grand DUke Sergei. More good act- 
ing comes' from Ernst Dumcke as 
opera director, Blandine Ebinger and 
Margarethe iSchoen as teachers, and 
Eduard Wenck as orchestra leader. 

A smart production, and one catchy, 
tune, 'Ich Bin Aul der. Welt' urn 
Gluecklicb. zu Sein' CI Am Here to 
Be Happy'). . 




Shea's Buffalo Theatre 

27TH WEEK 
"Arno'8 overture tops program." 
-Buffalo Courier Express. 



fl 



[ New York Theatres 

jMllHIMIIMIIIItimiHMMIHIIIIMmittWMMtMtHIMIIttqlllfM^^^ 

iiHHHMiil tiiiHiiiinjiiiniiimiiMtHMMijiiff"H*i»nf"iiu» MtMiii*«wimriMthiii>ilNiriMi(iiMiiiiirt<iM*uimrtHliH^ 



VERRAETER 

(Traitors') 
(GERMAN-MADE) 

Berlin, Sept. 25. 

UFA production and release. Features 
Willy Birgel. I.Ida Kaarov.i. Trene von 
MeycncIorfT. Theodor Loos. Rudolf Kernau,' 
Ohecleil l.y Kni-1 P.ILler. Story Waller 
Herzlli'l). Hums Wagner, Ijonnhanl Kuersl. 
Chief oC production. Hun.s Welilein.nni. A I. 
l'fa am Zoo, iwo weeks, ilunning lime, 
To mins. 

Morris Willv Hlr;;ol 

KchtilU H. A. K. Uo'hrne 

(iey^r Piiul Dnlilhe 

A Helcer Jo.vpii Dahmcn 

Dr. Wehner "Hans Y.s ■li-Unl!ot 

Comnilsrary Kili;in Senp -IJIst 

Kroepke V. von Colliindc 

Major Walen Nrnst K.ircliow 

Fritz Urnrkuu Itiidolf I'Vrnnn 

Marlon T.lila H"'iova 

Hans Klein Melius Welzel 

Hilde Koerner von Meycndorff 

\>r. Am*'- Theodor 

Oheisllleutenont Nuummin fclcgf. 

Poliuerenljerjs 

fiimmnnder ('. .Tunue-Sivlnbiirne 

<"upl. Dri-ssl-r Olio Onif 

(ieneral J)lreel«>r •. , .Hclnrlch fclnolli 

Max Ifnns H^nnicer 

Councilor Aysinnnn. . . Cir] Aueh 

T'ommisHnry Schober... Hwald Wenek 

Kde Willi rto.-e 

Trude i .<Ils>l!» V. Cnlinndc 

rhologr«|>h<'r Hrnst Heh.jier 

i'llot r.i-inlinl.l Jl.iuvr 

(In German) 

Swift-paced and thrilling propa- 
ganda film, and a powerful spy story. 
Plot is well worked out and has 
suitable dialog. Outstanding direc- 
tion and cutting. 

Sounding a warning to all and 
sundry to guard their tongues when 




PARAMOUNT V 

"VALIANT IS THE WORD* 
FOR CARRIE" 

with GLADYS GEORGE 

On tlie S.'agr: KNKIO MADRItit:jCRA. 
JOHN STBFX and MAX'INK OKKV I 



?iVr MUSIC HALL 

10th 9lrett and Mh Awniir 

"THE GAY 
DESPERADO" 

with NINO MARTINI 
&nectnculur Htnpe I'miluclloin - 




7TU u/cci<| Dully 2:50. B:. r ,n, Humluv 
I in yvc-.^i 3.r,.8;50, 4 Hliaw« Hat. 

v.r<n. am. .*-',o, Midniu> 

A n M I tl AOa to IZ. K»t. uml Hun. 
■™ ^ X ^ **• Mat.. 8»t. 'Mlitnlte. Hut. 

and Kun. ITIVM.. CUe to 
fl.30 (plut lax). 



6 WAY and 45th ftt. 




ilT.1 



•JJi'S?! "The Great 
ZIEGFELD" 

f'omlnjr— "The Wevll la K Hliwy" 



)th At. A 50th St. 



ROXY 



AM. OCo TO 
I I'.M. 



SEATS* 



SHIRLEY 
TEMPLE 

in "DIMPLES" 

— On 'the. fMairc— 
"ICK CMIINIV.W," 



STATE 



41ft STSIfT 
4«MMWn 



"LAST OF THE 
MOHICANS" 



Vnudevlllo 
GEO. HALL & ORC. 
AL SHAYNE 



WALTER HUSTON in 

"DODSWORTH" 

with MARY ASTOR 



UNITED 
ARTISTS 



RIVOLI 



a* WAY tt 
49th at. 



A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S 
DREAM 

Timt Time lit Vonulur Vrlcwt M 
Murium timcx Hi 10:15 A.M.. I1:3n noon, ■ 
.2:15, 5:1)0. !i;40 r.M.. IS midnight. ■ 

Op*ns »;»♦ 



82 



VARIETY 




o j a 





* 



on 




* -tftfrt ' - T*** 5Sr J-t >'*: 




DIRECT If 
tO YOUR | 
THEATER 1 





.From fhf ''Mftas ml. iMvMt|MM«nto' ; ' 

■ ■- r - : ■«• mm runntac'ln t IJME: 

■ tHEAfER-tfst.-To THE MARCH ^OF 
;TIME" canYj^h^ftJes about pas,t episodes 

■<■ »nd wher«;-t,he cufrt;nt'i«ue can be seen. An 
. 'accurate Jis't gf 'alt the theaters showing ' 
. THE ItfARCft €>F TIME has been prepared, 
V; by,stateYahlTciliey~yo(irs included.' jilso a' 
, - 4 complete, sjimtfaryiotalkepisodes f ronl ff 0 .\ 
./jo'.th'e current issue.' Bpih of these are yours 
'■for theaskine. Simply Write THE MARCH 
: OFTJM3464 Wist Mth Street, N.Y. City. 



theaters % -..Rowing the { 

classified by sta ! e ^ e0ts have ap- 

peared, more are uten f . r 

ready thousands have 



• ^ Waists ^th * e : 
a hd ^ et ^ d vSeMo theittown 

of Time pompon ^ riheatM , 
'custom , ' K.O«»n f or sam 'i 

'pies of *« e >t" S i c h con.""' 
"The First 5) jesting 



ady thousands bav ; 




• ■ i 

..I'. i 1 . • . 






LABOR VS. LABOR— A startling camera story of the meet- 
ings behind closed doors that split the A. F. of L. in two. 
Exclusive pictures of John L. Lewis and William Green as 
they battle over the organizing of 30,000,000 U.S. workers^ 

ENGLAND'S TITHE WAR— In the quaintest war in history, 
Britain'* farmers^long the bulwark oif th*e 'Church of Eng- 



JUST OUT! 



land, quietly revolt against the ancient tax that has supported 
the Church for 1200 years; force Parliament to change it. 

THE FOOTBALL BUSINESS— The Nation's most colorful 
and exciting sports spectacle this year adds commercial 
sponsorship of broadcasting: and open subsidizing ' of 
playersin its bid for the $56,0'DQ,QO.O %S, fans wjll spend. 



. Wednesday, .October 7, 1936 



RADIO 



VARIETY 33 







Channel Bloc Gonstandy on Hot Seat 



Washington, Oct: 6. 
r Split into numerous ,'sqrapping 

* groups, radio industry Monday (5 ; ) 
began presenting arguments in !f,ayor'- 
of and. opposition to ' proposed .basic, 

* revision' of government broadcasting' 
t. regulations; ' . "'. ' ' . 
\ . TJnder r oiare from; outside U spur qes, 

headed by ■ educational . and labor. 

* groups, industry crowd separated ,as 
' anticipated over questions of'; super- 
^ppwer and duplication-oil,, cleared 
1 channels,, as Federal Cph^umcatioii* 
. Commission began extensive informal 
"hearings oii a multj[tvide' of . engi- 
neering, economic, arid. -social prpb'- 

'• iems. ' ^ :.\ 
y :■ Educators .held . tifc' spjptjight durV 
f ing jhbst of the ' itrst 'day,' but' 'the 
/. principal" controversy, 'over, proposals. 

* to lift power maximum to' ,500 kw 
*' broke out before the.'Cbinmlsh' made 
f irijich headway ^ith;i its ^edul^-o^ 
Z nearly 100 .witrte^sii^^e^hanf 
f nel station^. $©t;.$ff * fhe v B%#''<lifcfcsv 
" growing, down tii/b --''gauhtiet to v JoM' 
' Shepard , IH ahd'ijhiis:: group of re T 

giorial broadcaster^ '-.without' delay*' 
Ground-work wfcs. lald'f or a faction- 
. al.fuss which .W$& seriously compli- 

* cate the Commisli task of deciding 
^ how to bverhavtf'' atftiquated theories 
, of regulation. . ' "„ . ' 
i. Seeking to overwhelm the.broad- 
',' cast . division -^ith. . barrage, of testi-. 
. mony, hdlders^of .franchises for ex- 
' elusive frequehfcies' laboriously de- 

* tailed their case "in. favor of .strict. 

* maintenance of : thfe -cleared-channel 
„ policy and delved, into, history to jus- 
tify their contention jhat.power limit 

should be jumped;frqnv50.to 500 kw. 
•'; . With a b^clarati(m;that tragic re- 
sults will ..result" if :'the Commish. 
"NCRanges the present .set-up Without 
ample data,. Edwin ,S. Craig of WSM, 
Nashville, initial* .witness- for the 
cleared-channei defenders urge"d the 
'.broadcast czars to .disregard side-Is- 
sues in settling the allocation prob- 
e lem. Craig, insisted that technical 
matters should be determined with- 
(Continued on page 38) 



• Washington, Oct. 6. 
. History is repeating .itself at the 
JFederal « Communications^ Commis- 
sion reallocation hearings. ' . 
. Present, lirie-tips. oh .tvyo • principal 
issues, ;superpbwer and' duplication 
oit; cleared channels^ are : essentially 
trijti same as? in 1924. 'when. [President 
Htiqveiv -then'' Secretary of ' Com- 
jf$ejy:e, called conferences to develop, 
pellicles to guide "development, of new 
radidfiHi Pro'minent in the fiigKt for 
power booste/id 5,000. Watts 12 years, 
ago and for continuance of**exciusive 
ai|^merit|i'teday are, Earl Anthony,' 
^njd^ow^ll 'Crosley,' Sr. ^ At -the samje. 



Among Those Present 



Washington, Oct. 6. 
•>.bout 250 persons are attending 
the reallocation hearings before the 
Federal Communications Commission 
in the.' Government Auditorium on 
Constitution avenue. Of this number 
about 25% are estimated to be engi- 
neers with the remainder station 

■ managers and. owners, network reps 
and lawyers, with' a sprinkling of 
pedagogs and equipment people. 

Among those present are: 

Powei CroslCy. Jr., WW, Clnclnnntl. 
Iwiink M. Smith, WMV. Cincinnati. 
Harrison HolUw'ay, ICFI, Los Ancelea. 
.T«H«r>h TT. Mulnnrt, WHO. Dcs Moines. 
Kdfc.nr JMIl; WMBI), Peorln. 
BuiTiilKe Butler, WLS, Chlcifio. 
Hen Glmbel. WJP, Philadelphia 
'. *£>'J, J. Gliide. KSTv, Knit T.ak6 City. 

• William- c. Gillespie. KTUL; Tulsa. - 
; Eurl J. Gluclc. WSOC, Charlotte. 

K. r. Joi-doti. WDII.I, Roanoke. 

• Lumbcrin Kay. WSB. Atlanta. 

. (.l«n I,Itt)o, KPSD, Hnn DietfO. 

• ™ n 1 KuPkwalter, WOAT., I.ancaBter. 
W. 11: Brown, Don Ijfe network. 

; «. A. Bracket t. WSPR. SmlngHpld. Mass. 

II. W. Batohelder. WFBIt, Bnlllmoie. 

w. AV. Henson, AVII>. St. Louis. 
.' jr. lj. Blatherinan. TfFJ, Los A'nuelos. 
. " I , , ; n , m A^Born, AVHBL, ShcboyRon, \\\s. 

William H. Lortpo. (;BS. New York. ' 
; I- A. Layet, WHO. Des JLolneti. 

Ben McUlashan, KGFi Los Angeles. 

• <.Jll Meyfii's.<SV«N, Chlrago. 

• ^ii!' 16 " M - Meyers. KOIN. Portland. 

• MaHon, WPTF. Balelfch. 
-'Alfred R, Marcy, AVFDL,. Syracuse. 

O. H. JolllfTe, RCA. 

Rev. O. L. Abell, WWL, New Orleans. , 
" €V - J. -W. Hymes. WWL; New Orleans. 
W. C. Alcorn, WBNX. New Vork. 
t.«mpbell Arnoux. WTAR. Noi ttilk. 
Hope Barrol, WFBR. Baltimore. • 

• _ Mr. nn d Mrs. Ralph Atla=9, AV-Tjn, nil. 

. CBffo. 

M;irlln rampbell. WFAA. Dallas. 

■ Ray ColUns, AVl'AA, Dallas. 

*• L. Chilton. KLRA. Palla.i. 
. S" r t"V Oowles, KRNT, Des Molnen, 

B<1 M. Craig, WSM. Nashville. 
- «; V. Dakln. CBK, New York. 

Lincoln Dellar. CBS. New Yrtvk. 

Iuankiin Doollttle. WDRC. Hartford. 

t M. TOverson, WmCC, Columbus. 

f rank Fnlkner. WBBM,- Chicago. 

Donald Flamm, WMCA. New York. 

5S!'. ry Hnrvey. KFAB, Lincoln. 

Wl bur Havens. WMBG. Wchmond. 

JulluiB Hetlanrt. AVDAY, Fargo. 

• Luther Hill. KSO. Des Moines. • 

Hew|lt. KFWB. Hollywood. 
<■■ W. Horn. NBC. • 
. ..Tack Howard, TVNOX. KnoxvlUe. 
, Rarl lj u n, WKY. Oklahoma City. 
, • Hopkins. WTAX. Jacksonville. 
' ean Fltr.er, AVDAF, Kansas City, 
r • Maurice Rtiben, WJAY. Cleveland. 
•Hi-y Wilder,- WSYR, Sywrune. 

(Continued on page 40) . 



HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF 

Same Cleavage on' Power- Jump 
Issue Today as In 1924 • 




MMENT 



Washington, Oct. -6. 
. - Existence- of - a secret /report" tak- 
ing- the hide off the old" Federal 
Radio Commission and "blaming gov- 
ernment/ [authorities for -"develo'p- 
mertt' of monopolies in 'the Jiroad- 
casting .flfeld was read into the" rec- 
ord, Monday (5) at opening session 
of reallocation hearings. -' 
!." "By - a' neat bit • of ' evidently pre- 
arranged side-play, ' significance of 
Which escaped many of the broad- 
casters present, Communications 
Commissioner George Henry- Payne 
put Senator -Burton TC, <■ Wheeler, 
chairman of the Senate' Interstate 
Commerce Committee, and F. C. C. 
Chairman Anning S. Pr'all on the 
spot by bringing out the fact that 
the sensational .document has been 
pigeon-holed for. two years. Simul- 
taneously, Payne paved the way for 
publication of the sharp criticism of 
government radio bosses. 

Play, which appeared entirely 
Spontaneous, occurred at the end of 
speech by Howard Evans; principal 
spokesman for National iEommittee 
for Education by Radio. Ostensibly 
seeking'fhfdrmation, Payne inquired 
whether Evans had not authored a 
report on the radio-education prob- 
lem and established that the docu- 
ment was submitted to Senator 
Wheeler and Chairman Pfall many 
moons ago. ■ 

When informed the report never 
has teen . printed,' Payne asked 
Evans whether it would be possible 
to have his findings made part of 
the recorded the reallocation hear- 
ings. Spokesman for the pedagogs 
promised to try and obtain consent, 
saying he thought the Senator 
would give him permission to un- 
seal his papers for the guidance of 
the Commish. 

Although the Evans report never 
has been published, its contents 
have been known to an inside group 
for a considerable period. Further- 
more, Payne is understood to have 
used some of its contents in 'lis 
series of speeches at Eastern col- 
leges during the past 18 months 
while trying to mobilize educators 
for a new fight to break up alleged 
commercial monopolies. 

. Bill Young Joins NBC 

Chicago,. Oct. 6, 
Bill Young, formerly manager of 
the local RCA Victor recording 
office, joins the NBC disc, and 
Thesaurus staff here. 

Will "work with ,iyfaurie' Wetzel on 
the selling end of the NBC disc 
library service and .-custom built 
platters. Recently Yofing 4*as -per- 
sonal rep for the Jari Garber or- 
chestra. ... 




as 



CBS Head Takes Floor 
F.C.C. Hearings Open 

> in Wash, -r-? Craig Speak* 
for Clear Channel Faction 

. 77- Session Costs Plenty 



EQUIP: BOYS' BREAK? 



, ; By : BOB L ANDRY , - v 

t . ' Washington, Oct 6. ' 

Fundamental divisions of interest 
,ahd opinion on subjects aff ecting the. 
future.. ; of • broadcasting ■■' are! Ib'eing 
aired, before -the /.Federal ..Communi- 
cations Commission.' In language and 
with a legal ;'fprmanty' "tHaf' afpipst 
succee^s'ihliidmg'the'flnancial gnzes. 
^di'busjness .-advantages- inyolved Tift 
•the hearings, and^thfe changes, -ultf- 
.jnately expected, NBfc and CBS. are 
£efrcing; for future prestige^ and' -sta- 
tion' balance; wfyle the ^ig--. clear 
ohahhet stations . that want, to be 
bigger, and the. small stations thajt 
fear the -bigness ,of : the dominant- 
broadcasters; have their own private : 
War. ' ' - ■' .• './': ; : l 

Lesser skirmishes are in progress 
or' threaten, but on -a basis' of .the: first 
two days of the hearings. it "might 
seem from- the character of ,th#';'evi-; 
dence that everybody, had Qnly.';ba|& 
thought— how to. render, a .finer and 
more elevating public service. '. 

.... What It Costs * 
"^Hearings again draw attention to 
the disproportionate amount of time,, 
attention and expense the .existing 
regulatory system exacts from broad- 
casting generally and the unrealistic 
and circuitous approach to the 
Washington problem business' men 
are obliged to make. Everybody 
seems , determined' to hide the fact 
that radio broadcasting is a, commer 
cial enterprise, even where ecohom^ 
ics are mentioned, as in the. c ost of 
super-power establishment a'nd . op- 
eration, the point emphasized is that 
mechanical costs might possibly di- 
vert money away from the program 
end and adversely influence public 
service. 

■ Nobody . knows how much, in 
money, the current hearings will cost 
the. radio industry. Preparations 
have been going forward for three 
months! Engineering, data _and the 
maps are so technically involved that 
they seem like Rube, Goldberg' car- 
(Continued on page 40) .'•' 



Once It Now Only 25 S 
Pedagogs Chide F. €. 





ect 



Not -Among Friends 



. ^ ..'. •" Washington, Oct. 6. . 
" . .; Advance anticipations * of a 
. fight. between the clear channel 
and . regional groups'; apparently 
had its. due 'effect cinthe mental .. 
attitude . of . broadcasters arriv-' 
mg'in' Washington for the re- 
. ' allpcatipn . hearings. In con-. 
. trast. .to -.the usual, convivial - 
. . habits pf .the boys when attend- 
f ihg/conyeritions, there was very .... 

little, socializing^ . ... ■ 
... „ jSach lawyer 'seemed to be^the 
".focal -'Pdiht'l oi^ various', cliques! 
. 3fhe i bpys-very,dpflriitely startteji ; 
'. off. this '.Washington siege in. 
' '''sd^rje'-ff^Diie; 'df'inltfd. ■ ', ' 

.. .^ One^ _ broadcaster explained - 
: 'the"- ■ attifudir by "" staling "the, .( 
broadcasters' felt "they we're 1 ' 1 




f "'•. '' • ..; c ■ . ' .Sydney^-pct. .6. 
. , Institution , ot TRajC P JJhgirjeers of 
Australia;'|^eks .jtovpiay.^opt -to a 
.world corigreks'of "riad}D';engineers to. 
be . held in Sydney ( April' 4 to 14, 
1938.- City will' at that time be cele- 
brating its 150th .anniversary. . 

Although plans are still in a form- 
ative stage, it* has been decicled.,to 
raise a fund to defray the expenses 
of a committee and a publicity cam- 
paign in Europe and U, S.'to' further 
the idea. • '• 



STOTAED'S 9TH AMI 

Sah Francisco, Oct. 6. 

Standard Symphony Hour, which 
has been bankrolled by Standard Oil 
of California' over the NBC-Red web 
on the Coast" since Oct., 1927, cele- 
brates its ninth anniversary on the 
air Thursday (8). Mishel Piastre 
will -conduct the 65-piece orchestra, 
members of which are selected from 
the • San Francisco Symphony. ■ 

Program is oldest commercial fea- 
ture in Coast radio. 



4A's Holds Off- Further Research Until 
F.C.C. Reallocation Data Available 



ED CRAIG'S SERIAL 



Formidable in leift h— But A 
Scholarly Job of Trade History 



Washington, Oct. 6. 
Ed Craig of WSM, Nashville, made 
the presentation for the clear chan- 
nel group at the Monday afternoon 
reallocation hearing ' before F.C.C. 
His scholarly document had been 
printed on . long galleys and Craig 
waded in courageously. : Comment 
among broadcasters afterwards was 
that Craig gave the most factual 
step-by-step history of the whole 
past o£ radio engineering probably 
thus fa* put together. 

But it had its comedy side because 
of the vast detail and carefully- 
documented research. Craig read bis 
way through galley after galley. 
Then, after talking for an hour and 
five minutes solid, Craig stated: 

'And now we come to- the fall of 

1926 ' 

Before he reached 1928 Craig's 
voice gave out and he called upon 
Louis Caldwell -to continue the 
presentation which had finally 
reached the present when the first 
day's hearings adjourned. 



Paul F. Peter, managing director 
for the Joint Committee on Radio 
research, has* deferred finishing, his 
report on what line? of research he 
thinks the bureau should pursue un- 
til after the reallocation hearings be* 
fore the Federal Communications 
Commission. Peter and John A. 
Benson, . president of the ' American 
Association ofkAdyertisirig Agencies, 
last week, on a visit to • Washington, 
discussed" with the commish. the mat- 
ter of extending to the bureau per- 
mission to examine the FCC's files 
for everything pertaining to station 
coverage. 

Peter and the committee figures 
that , the current hearings will pro- 
vide a- mass of engineering data that 
will be of help to the bureau in de- 
termining its future course of activ- 
ities. Peter will attend each of the 
hearing's sessions. 

Comunications commissioners ex- 
pressed themselves as interested in 
Peter and Benson's quest and sug- 
gested that they take it up with T;he 
FCC's engineers. What Peter would 
particularly like to s^e in the com- 
mission's files' are the estimated 
field "strength patterns or formulae 
used in determining the effect that 
local geographical and meteorological 
conditions have on a station's signal. 



Washington, . Oct 6. 
Conforming to past custom, educa- 
tional broadcasters immediately re- 
newed their fight as -th6 reallocation. i 
hearings opened here yesterday, for : 
reservation. of an. arbitrary percent- 
age of U. S. facilities for educational 
and cultural use. - 'pist -F.C.C. per- 
formances 'Were rapped by institu- . 
tional - spokesmen; Who- complained 
th&t ^education-sfiouldr ndt' he com- 
pelled to depend oii tfie^generosity v 
of commercial broadcasters in order . 
to receive air opportunities. « ** 

- Protesting- thiat^ihipomht areas of, 
potential public "'.sejrWe. ,. are \ r either 
phut, out or* greatly Wi^|fcapped un- 
der pres,erit."eoi^tio«s; Dr/ A. 6;' 
Crane-; president pf,t^(|/&nive'rsity.'ef 
Wyoming, Warned^the^ommisK that . 
social . consequenc!^"'9f -any r eallbca r 
iion n^iJ^/be, »^ider|d. ; "Govern- . 
jne'ntj' ' ean/iof r j clntl^e : to ihut . its 
eyes to thej-soettL^iSfft'^f radio,- he 
satdr. aj^ j'iaiuK^i^fr its." decisions : 
solely, on^engin^ejr^^ata. ;'•.!:.";'■ 
; ^Educatiohat^oiceff have been prei. ' 
y^W'l^\qttild»8;^etr; best con- 
tributiditSi* Xrane siSid, remarking 
tha,t ipfoneepgtgGffiijiQsi ' have been 

.flictjs ftave. o^cjliftred yitjr, advertisers^ 
arid . -com|ne>:-cjaIj». :pi^op.a£anda : has 
been fprcedvupjc»|t %iu\ people;'. •-; ?. . 

'In' advSocatinjf 'tne reservation of . 
spWiflc fr^ejrtCie^'folr educational 
use.'pedagbgs-p&Sa* attention to the 
•ultfa-high- frequencies which may .be 
opened up uifdej^rieW policies.- Thejea i, 
asked ;th^ Goitemisli to ' give, educa- 
\tion a '^b^ij^^^fpre allowing com- 
h Ver^ a^ jbl^q^tffls to. preempt, the^ 
hew'field the>wa^they have irabBed 
oft -the ^il^ bind. 

. ■■ -.'; ,v;^«n.i|ioly Issne . 

Monopoly 'issue.was raised by' Prof. 
Edward ' B^fljltt^ of University of 
WisconsinjCwShidlvSaid that either by 
regulatibia;"':^^^ legislation fre- 
quencies jhoqldTbe' reserved for. edu- 
cationat^^^c- '••' _ Universities' -and. 
colleges fooUTA ^ have a definite place- 
in the 'pietflife,'.he said, so there Will 
be no need.fjr^ompetitipn between 
cultural ahdj' commercial programs. 

Direct plea for low frequencies for 
educational use was made by H, B, 
McCarty, president of National Asso- 
ciation of Educational 'Broadcasters, 
who believed; that reservation of a 
few frequencies in combination with . ' 
vpJuataryVtime-sharJng ijucommer- ' 
cial interests, will solve trie educa- . 
tiona'I problem. McCarty pointed, out 
the membership of his group has 
dwindled from more than 100 ip 
about 25 as institutional transmitters 
have been deleted or forced to this 
wall. ' , . V 

Helped Build Radio 

Pedagog's plea for greater con^ 
fideration was based in part on the 
contention that research by collegei 
and university staffs paved the way . 
for development of the commercial 
industry. McCarty pointed out that 
originally most stations were op- j 
erated by . educational ' ^iristitutipnB 
Which were technical pioneers who 
(Continued on page 54) 



Radio as 'Social ^ force' . 
>Dtte for Attention of 
18 typiips in December 



'' Washington, Oct. 6. 

Some 18 organizations viewing 
radio as a 'social force' are skedded 
for a confab at the Hotel -MayflosHsr. .. 
here on Dec. 10 to 12. U. S. Office j 
of Education and the FCC are co- ' 
operating. " ' ' 

Topics lined up for rehashing in- 
clude religious' broadcasts, - forums, 
radio workshops, schools of the air, 
children's programs, uses, of radio 
for colleges, museums, etc. Among 
the 18 sponsoring groups are Ameri- 
can Assn. for Adult Education, Gen- 
eral Federation of Women's Clubs, 
National Advisory Council pn .Ba- 
dio in Education, National Congress 
of Parents and Teachers, National*-' 
Education Assn., Women's National 
Radio Committee. •• ,;C- • - . . 



34 



VARIETY 



RADIO 



Wednesday, October .7, 1936 




Democrats 
Coast KH ami Things Happen Fast; 
. NBC Stump Spiel Feeds CBS Link 



Los Angeles, Oct. 6. 
Democratic Rational Committee 
stirred up a mess on the Coast Tuesr 
day. (29) when it bought the entire 
NBC red network, .with the excep- 
tion of Earle C. Anthony's KFI, for 
President Roosevelt's speech out of 
Syracuse. Reason for' the slight was 
believed to be in retaliation for the 
station's recent refusal to take a fire- 
side chat by the president as a sus- 
taining, feature. All other red outlets 
•.. carried the talk, gratis, which An- 
thony claimed was purely, political 
and subject to commercial listing. 

First off, De'ms hot only snubbed 
KFI, but salted the wound by buy- 
ing time on KHJ, Columbia's L. A. 
outlet, to cover., the Southern Cali- 
fornia area. "When Anthony heard 
that a heretofore .untried technical 
'feat was to be accomplished to swing 
the broadcast over to a CBS station 
on a feed from NBC, he hit the ceil- 
ing! . 

' Anthony ' charged an out-arid-out 
Violation of the web's contract with 
' ••• KFI. It was pointed out that no NBC 
commercial out of the east can be 
aired by any spot other than the 
Anthony outlet without a waiver 
from the NBC affiliate. v Spokesmen 
for the oif ended Station said that 
■ they were not consulted in the mat- 
■. 'ter..' • ' . 

How It Was Done 

:•• v . Trick of feeding broadcast to KHJ 
' off the NBC net was achieved 
through ati Associated Oil Co. foot- 
, ball wire in San Francisco, which is 
• V connected with both network stations 
there. -The Lee' station/ in Frisco, 
KFRCi, took the talk off KPO, NBC 
spot, arid sent it down the coast to 
j-i. ^ KHJ, It worked like a charm. 
y*? . * ':. KHJ was accused of muffing a big 
opportunity to make friends just be- 
•'. fore the swing to Mutual by cutting 
- off " the president's speech! 90 seconds 

■ ■ ' off the signoff. After the cut, sta- 
. . tioh put ' on ' a coihm'erciai floater; 
'. Squawks were plentiful for' what is 

believed to -be the first time a chief 
executive had been blocked out for 
a local spot. Kf| switchboard, buzzed 
with beefs from listeners. 
With another paid commercial 

■ contracted by the Derribs for-4he 
speech- from Pittsburgh,; the commit 
me'nt. going put to 'both NBC (red) 
and" CBS stations, KFI Was once 
again omitted. But only for a time. 

-Day before, Anthony burned up the 
.wires, to New York and demanded 
.an explanation ... from President' 
, Lenox Lohr,' of. ^IB.C. Anthony, de- 
clined to . issue, a statement of what 
v transpired on , the transcontinental 
. calls or ;what action he would take 
against the chain for .what was called 
a- -wilful .abrogation' of the • station's 
. agreement with the network,. Short- 
\. 1y after, noon of the ; dayof.the Syra- 
[: . ' use broadcast (29) a bare announce- 
" ; ment came out of local democratic 
.-'.■'.'■''■ headquarters, that the 'President's 
. , speech, would be heard On' both KHJ 
V" and KFI. 

Who Sent Out Dove? 

; . . , Just ; whp bore the, olive branch is 
: the subject of- much speculation. 
|Best guess is that/NBC squared the 
rap and_ restored the Anthony sta- 
tions to" good standing with ' the 
Demos. Local NBC execs remained 
reticent throughout, saying the deed 
. was done by the traffic department 
in, New York.. They , also were kept 
in the dark on how toe sore spot was 
healed, by whom and with what. 

in the midst of the controversy a 
report reached town containing the 
then . startling.: information that 
WGAN iin :Portlarid, Me., was au- 
thorized by- FCC- tp proceed with 
..construction of its 500. watter and 
operate on 640 kilocycles (KFI's 
clear channel). Harrison Holliway, 
KFI-KEC'A manager, discounted the 
_ import of the significance, pointing 
- - out that stations in Columbus, O., 
and Arties, la., have been using the 
V^ehannel with little or no effect. 
• Holliway left next day for Wash- 
ington to petition the commission to 
grant a 500 kw. license to KFI. Just 
how far into the good graces of the 
commish the Anthony stations have 
been returned by the patchup may 
be measured by the disposition of 
the commissioners when Holliway 
. makes his appeal. 



WTIC IN THE BLACK 



Hartford Station Drops Highbrow 
- Program Policy 



Hartford, Oct. 6. 
Station WTIC; long noted for its 
pretentious local production set-up, 
is now operated by P. W. Morericy 
and J. F. Clancy, with an' eye to 
showing a profit. Travelers Insur- 
ance Co. has tired of taking it on the 
financial chin in the name of prestige 
after some seven years, during which 
annual deficits ran as" high as 
$300,000. 

Under the new set-up the house 
orchestra has been eliminated arid 
numerous other program economies 
initiated. Station is now reported in 
the black, with business so good that 
local advertisers have little chance of 
getting evening spots. Station gets 
program service out of Boston from 
the Yankee network as well as from 
NBC. 



Audition Dementia 



Leader of a dance band which 
has been making rapid strides 
during the past year was audi* 
tioning his unit lor a prospec- 
tive client and the New York 
ad agenoy. Came time for the 
guest tenor to do his first num- 
ber. There was a long delay. 

Client got uneasy and wanted 
to know what was' the matter, 
Was told that arrangements 
had been made for an experi- 
enced conductor to handle the 
tenor's interludes, but. the fel- 
low had not showed up as yet. 



ANTI-WAX RULE 
ADOPTED IN S. A. 



Tex. Newspaper 




Flock of applications for new sta- 
tions are expected to hail from Texas 
within the next couple of months, 
and 95% of them will be from news- 
paper publishers in that State's tank 
towns. Reason for the impending 
deluge of small-wattage petitions .'is 
that advertisers have started to tell 
the papers in the Lone Star State 
that it's cheaper to use radio than 
the public prints. So the newspapers 
are expected to corral the radio situ- 
ation if they can. 

Texas is the biggest State in area, 
but its population is only about 23 
to the square mile (whereas, say, 
New Jersey has 538 per sq. mile) 
This inakes newspaper distribution 
costs (arid rates) pretty • steep. Ra 
dio, on the other hand, 'is regarded 
as a natural in this area, and the 
publishers are .figured as not ;being 
unaware of this, fact. 

For - .another thing, the Texas' 
crowd has its eyes on NBC's ma- 
neuvers to set up separate Red and 
Blue links in Dixie, and- are anxious 
to cash iri on such maneuver. 



Jack Moyle, announcer at KSFO, 
San Francisco, gets role in Hal Bur- 
dick's. "'Night Editor' programs over 
the NBC red web Sunday nights. 
He replaces' Frank Provo. 



FOR COMMUTERS ONLY 

Detroit, Ocj.- 6. . 
Correct time at one-inihute inter-' 
vals is the latest thing here. . 
. Regal" Finance has signatured with 
WJBK for giving of 'It's now ex- 
actly ,' every minute from 6 to 

7:30 a. m, daily. 



Buenos Aires, Aug. 27. 
Recordings and transcriptions are 
on the way out on three leading 
stations here, Radio Belgrario (LR3), 
Radio Mitre' (LR6) and Radio El 
Mundo (LR1). Meanwhile bo'th Ar- 
gentina and Uruguay have already 
legislated against use of one. minute 
spot announcements on discs. Sim- 
ilar trends are seen ' in Peru and 
Chile. Argentine regulations stipu- 
late that two-thirds of entire broad- 
casting) time must be with live tal- 
ent. 

Radio- Belgrano and Radio El 
Mundo are both now operating 16 
hours daily with use of live talent 
exclusively. Radio' Mitre switches 
when existing contracts have ex- 
pired. Move was decided on in 1935 
by both Jaime YankeleVich and Uni- 
versal Publishing Service. Latter 
owns El Mundo. Radio Portena 
(LR4) and Radio Cultura (LR10),two 
other larger stations of Yankelevich, 
will continue with recordings for 
some time. 

Cost to advertisers is not increased 
with change. All talent is under 
contract to stations and is never cut 
in for additional money. Stations 
stagger their talent to suit them- 
selves. Artists never earn more than 
their regular- salary irrespective of 
the earnings the stations enjoy from 
their labors. And wages' are by 
American standards very low. Cost 
of talent here is virtually negligible. 

Further consideration must be 
given the fact that talent here is 
more plentiful than iri U. S. Nearly 
every Latin plays an instrument, 
sings or dances. Therefore the en- 
tertaining population, ori per capita 
basis, is acknowledged larger than in 
the America of Major Bowes.-: 



Serial Continuity Protected 
From Politicians' Palaver 

Chicago, Oct. 6. 
Wrigley's new show on Columbia 
will not start now until Nov. 4. At 
the last minute the gum company 
decided to wait until after the elec- 
tion before starting script serial. 
Figured the possibility of having the 
continuity of the serial shot to pieces 
by 'must' political broadcasts break- 
ing in. 

Choice still rests between" 'Peggy 
and Joe,' by William Hazlitt Upson, 
and 'Scattergood Brains' of Clarence 
Buddington Kelland. 



Summer Slump Licked 

N.A.B. Reports Show Only 9.4% Drop Be- 
tween June- July— Record Summer 



Washington, Oct. 5. 

Further proof that radio has 
chased the usual summer slump over 
the hills was provided last week in 
National Association of Broadcasters' 
monthly report, which revealed a 
drop of only 9;4% in broadcast ad- 
vertising between June and July. 

With revenues approximating 
$7,232,225, . the industry stood up 
much better than in previous years, 
N.A.B. statisticians reported. July 
was the second successive month 
when the seasonal decline was less 
than usual. In 1935 the hot weather 
dip amounted to 11.1%. 

Additional improvement over last 
year — in itself a record — was seen in 
the report, with July time sales 
bounding 23.4%. above July, 1935. 
All branches of the industry showed 
approximately the. same rate of in- 
crease. 

Only branch to record an actual 
rise in revenues between June and 
July was regional network group, 
which took in $8,000 more and lifted 
gross to $113,705. National web fig- 



ures were off $160,000 to $3,823,320; 
national non-chain $220,000 to $1,661,- 
200; local $325,000 to $1,625,000. 

The seven months' total and' the 
continued improvement in curbing 
the summer slump removed all doubt 
about this being the industry's ban- 
ner year to date. At the end of 
July, gross revenues amounted to 
$58,034,404, in contrast to $50,923,97A 
at the same point last year. This 
is a gain of better than 10% over 
corresponding period of 1935. 

Only type of advertising which did 
not slump during the month was of 
national announcement category. 
Non-network outlay for transcrip- 
tions was off $180,000; live talent was 
down $318,000, and record was 
$11,000 less. Announcement expen- 
ditures, on the other hand, rose 
$47,000 in the national non-web field, 
although there was a drop of $90,000 
in the local field. But every , class 
improved in comparison with 1935, 
with recent marked growth of trans- 
scrlption revenues in the national 
■non-web field continuing unchecked. 



Ask Stations to Btiy G0P Discs at $2, 
Re-Sell 'Em to local Politicians at $5 



NO SOLO TH UMBERS 

KDKA Set Up Audition Board of 8 
— Catch-ss-Catch-Can Stuff Out 



Pittsburgh, Oct; 6. 

Policy of catch-as-catch-can with 
new talent has been eliminated by 
KDKA' with installation of audition 
board at station. In past individuals 
have turned thumbs , down .or up on 
applicants; now a committee of eight 
will have the final say. 

Board's composed of John Gihon, 
program "manager; Robert Saudek, 
continuity chief; Umberto Egizi, con- 
ductor of KDKA orchestra;. Glenn 
Riggs, chief announcer; Charles 
Urquhart, production manager; Al 
Egizi, ' staff arranger, and . James 
McConnell, head of artists bureau. 

They've set aside ' five periods a 
month to hea'r talent every Monday 
morning and first Friday night of 
each month. 



New Application 
Complicates That 
Jam in Brooklyn 



Washington, Oct. 0. 
Adding to the chop suey of 
Brooklyn applications for the 1,400. 
kilocycle frequency, ■ Kings Broad- 
casting Co., publisher of the Jewish 
newspaper, The Day,' last week pe- 
titioned the Federal. Communications 
Commission for permission to build 
a new station, halve hours of opera- 
tion .with. WLTH and WARD, and 
tak e ov er facilities of WBBC and 
WVFW. 

Admittedly the worst tangle ever 
faced by the commish, the 'Brooklyn 
cases' at present involve four appli- 
cations, for full time on 1,400 kc 
(Brooklyn Eagle, WBBC, WEVD, 
WVFW); an application filed by 
WLTH- WARD, asking . for • consoli- 
dation under control- of Kings 
Broadcasting Co.; a request by Kings 
Broadcasting for permission to buy 
WARD-WLTH and the newest- plea 
for. a new full-time station. - Present 
Status sees Brooklyn Eagle (WEGL) 
and WBBC sharing one-quarter time 
of the 1,400 kc-500 watt assignment, 
and WARD, WLTH and WVFW cut- 
ting up the. remaining three-quar- 
ters between them. 

In view of the fact that Kings 
Broadcasting's application for pur- 
chase of WARD and WLTH is pend- 
ing with the commish — while outfit's 
latest request asks . to share time 
with the same stations — the Broad- 
cast Division of the F.C^C. , is doing 
some head^scratching to determine 
what it can do to straighten out 
the muddle. Meanwhile, WBBC and 
WVFW have shown no signs of pull- 
ing but of the free-for-all, and each 
is holding out for full time on the 
disputed, frequency, regardless . of 
KBC'S application for their facilities. 
Injection of WEVD, Debs station 
now operating on 1,30.0, kilocycles, 
thickens the plot but is more or less 
disregarded by the. growing trans- 
mitters already operating . on 1,400 
kc. 

Commish Ducking: 
Commish has been ducking the 
evil day when 'the entire mess of 
Brooklynites will be jointly heard 
at the T.C.C. and has set no date, 
beyond hinting that the day of reck- 
oning will fall 'sonie time after the 
Oct. 5 engineering hearings.' 

Rumors that Arde Bulova, wealthy 
New York watchmaker, is dickering 
with WBBC on the q.t. persist, in 
spite of the fact that he has with- 
drawn his application for a berth 
on the crowded 1,400 kc frequency. 
Dopesters have long since thrown 
up the sponge, however, on figuring 
the outcome of the scramble. 

Indication of how the three mem- 
bers of the Broadcast Division feel 
about unsnarling things is seen in a 
recent announcement that the joint- 
hearings will be held before the 
full commission. 



Broadcasters with Landon leanings 
are wondering, how the Republican 
National Comtriittee came to be. sold 
on the idea of turning out five- 
minute transcriptions for placement 
at this stage of the radio season. 
Even if the committee were ready to 
buy this time direct, it would have 
difficulty getting facilities on any of 
the important stations. Business is 
too good for the better, stations to 
consider anything less than 15-min- 
ute periods particularly from po- 
litical sources, 

Mary Olds, ' mikester on femme 
topics who is now with the speakers 
bureau of the Republican National 
Committee, has during the past week 
been, trying to get station reps to 
,flnd out which of their clients will 
take five-minute discs, and, if so, 
what, periods they have available. 
The deal which she is offering is not 
a proposition that entails direct pay- 
merit from the Republican exchequer. 

Not Enthusiastic • ■ 
It is up to each station to buy the 
discs from the Republican commit- 
tee for $2 each and in turn try to 
get a local merchant not only to buy 
these transcriptions for $5 a piece 
but underwrite the time costs. Sta- 
tions reps compare the Idea to the 
methods used last year by the Town- 
sendites in getting- their propaganda 
over the air and, although they tteat 
the approach from Republican quar- 
ters with outward courtesy, they see 
no reason for lending themselves to 
the stunt. 

Literature sent out by the Repub- 
lican National Committee states that 
there are 21 of these five-minute 
transcriptions available and that the 
series is "being broadcast on a 
planned schedule with reiriarkable 
success on -two stations* throughout 
Pennsylvania. Representing show 
business in the list of recorded 
speakers are' Brock Pernberton, de- 
scribed as a personal friend and col- 
lege classmate of Governor Landon, 
and. Geraldine'Farrar. 



WALKEE-SKLAE WALK 

Holland (Dutch) Walker and Paul 
Sklar, associate editors of Tide, ad- 
vertising trade paper, have resigned. 
Both were identified with radio 
news, Sklar lately acting as radio ed. 
• They'll free lance as a writing 
team. 



$168,919 FOR 
MBS IN SEPT. 



September intake this year of 
Mutual Broadcasting totaled $168,919. 
Figure for September, 1935, was 
$82,907. . 

Percentage gain comes to 103.8%, 
and gives the first nine months of 
this year a total of $1,294,903. 



WJBK GETS UON GAMES; 
STOP CANADIAN CKLW 



Detroit, Oct. 6. 

WJBK, which led a battle to keep 
the Detroit Lions' pro football games 
off Canadian-owned CKLW, has now ' 
landed the tilts for itself. • Station 
carried its fight against CKLW to the 
FCC, which ruled, that it didn't want 
to start a precedent by. allowing 
foreign stations to. pick , up direct 
broadcasts from the U. S, ' Games 
are sponsored by Standard. Oil of In- 
diana through McCann-Erickson. 
CKLW. has meantime voluntarily 
withdrawn from any further dispute 
over the matter. 

Besides WJBK, both home and 
out-of-town contests will also be 
aired by the Michigan web minus 
WXYZ, Detroit, and WOOD-WASH, 
Grand Rapids. Al- Nagler, WJBK 
sportscaster, and Harry Wismer, of 
WJR, wiU handle. 



BAKEB'S 3D WBITEB 

Phil Baker has issued a contract 
to Hal Block, putting him on his 
staff of writers with Sam Perrin and . 
Arthur Philips. 

Block last year was one of Baker's 
neophyte scribblers, not getting bill- 
ing at that time. 



ANNE DIRECTOE UPS 

Sari Francisco, Oct. 6. 

Anne Director, for four years as- 
sistant to Fred .H. Fidler in the local 
office of the J, Walter Thompson 
agency, has succeeded Fidler as head 
of the firm's radio department. 

Fidler recently, was transferred to 
St. Louis to manage the agency'* 
office there. 1 



Wednesday, October 7, 1936 



r' 



KADI 



VARIETY 



35 



NAB Plans Revision in Radio Revenue 
Estimates After Doubting Its Census 



* Washington, Oct. 6. 

'Revision of basis by. which in- 
dustry revenues are estimated was 
planned last week by National As- 
sociation of Broadcasters following 
discovery that past ■ reports have 
minimized importance of local ac- 
: counts. . ' - 

Back-tracking . after challenging 

■ tlje validity of figures, compiled . by 
the Census . Bureau, N.A.B. an- 
nounced that a fqrther check of the 
apcuracy of its own statistics indi- 
cates that local, volume is more sig- 

. nfflcant in calculating the amount bf 
nbn-hefwork business than pre- 
viously was appreciated.- Upward 
adjustment of local figures will be 
carried out as soon as publication of 
•detailed Census Bureau break-downs 
become available, Association said. 

■Discrepancy between N.A.B. and 
government figures became apparent 
two months ago when the Census 
. reports on " special survey, of 1935 
broadcasting business' showed local 
accounts totaled nearly $7,000,000 
more than ' Association estimates 

■ while national nori-web receipts were 
about $3,000,000 .under the Associa- 
tion figures. 

;Last year, N.A.B. guessed national 
,npri-web volume . amounted to $17,- 
063,688 and local volume to $19,281,- 
735. . The Census figures were $13,- 
805,200 and $26,074,676, respectively. 

JRecent checks showed a difference 
of about 3% in the proportions of 
national non-web and local business 
reported by identical groups of sta- 
tions to the N.A.-B. and the Census 
Bureau. Although pa,rt of this is off- 
set by greater discounts on national 
. accounts and by the further fact 
that the Census took net flguces 
while the N.A.B, took gross receipts, 
the comparison Indicated a need for 
revision' in the Association estimat- 
ing procedure. 



Vuhridge Quits WJR 



. Detroit, Oct. 6. 
Owen Yuhrfdge,. sales manager of 
WJR, has. resigned to become man- 
ager bf the Radio Sales, Inc.! spot 
sales, agency of CBS. 
. Clark Branion succeeds Yuhridge. 

CHECKING UR0N THE AIR 

Rollins See Games — Listens to Run- 
ning Comment at Same Time - 



KMOX' New News Editor, 
And Other Staff Changes 

St. Louis, Oct. 6. 

Don Ownbey, formerly with 
WBBM Chicago, has joined KMOX 
as news editor. Paul Phillips, as- 
sistant" continuity editor at KMOX, 
ups to top desk, replacing John 
Clark, who ha^ moved east to WFIL, 
Philadelphia. Before coming to. St. 
Louis, Phillips was continuity editor 
of WMCa, New York. 

Ray Fleming, former advertising 
chief of St. Louis branch of Kroger 
Grocer & • Baking Co., now on sales 
staff of KMOX. Frederick G. Con- 
dict, on city desk of Star-Times, 
local 'afternoon rag, who served as 
part time editorial consultant at 
KMOX, is now devoting entire ef- 
forts to the paper. 



Philadelphia, Oct. 6. 
John L. Clark, has been named 
program manager of WFIL, local 
NBC (blue) and Mutual outlet. Ex- 
pected to concentrate on developing 
new talent and' program's. 



MUTUAL TELLS 
TRADE HOW IT 
STANDS 



Joe Rollins, advertising manager 
and v.p. of Atlantic Refining, pulling 
a new one by way of checking, up 
on his radio programs. 
._', Atlantic Refining has bought a. lot 
of play-by-play football reports; so 
Rollins each Saturday attends a dif- 
ferent game equipped with a port- 
able receiving set. Listens in while 
... at the game and matches the an- 
' Bouncer's descriptions with what he 
Sees* out on the field. Says he wants 
absolute accuracy. 



WSIX' Staff 

Nashville, Oct. .6. 
. Staff for WSIX, which opened 
Sept 10, with studios in Andrew 
Jackson hotel, appointed by S. A. 
Ci .sler, general manager, includes R.' 
M, Tigert . as sales manager, with 
George Doyne,' E. J. Sperry,' Porter 
Smith and A. T. Levine, Jr., under 
him. 

Casper B. Kuhn, Jr., heads pro- 
gram department as production 
manager, with Fred Scott and Joe 
Calloway as announcers. Tom J. 
McWilliams is continuity editor. 
Engineering staff includes Bascom 
Porter, chief; Harold Walker, George 
•Terhune. Glenna Dotson is hostess. 



Owen Uridge's Job 

• Detroit, Oct. 6. 

Kelly Smith, general sales man- 
ager of Radio Sales, has appointed 
Owen Uridge, of station WJR here, 
as the Detroit chief for the Columbia 
spot biz. ' " 

Uridge moves over to the Radio 
Sales desk next week. 



Jefferson at de 'Garmo 
, C. Jefferson has been added to 
the staff of the de Garmo agency as 
r «aio time- buyer. Previously was 
Production manager for CampbeU- 
*£wald in Detroit, and art director for 
wooke, Smith & French on the Kel- 
vinator account in the same- city. 

Succeeds M. E. Boehm, who has 
resigned from de Garmo to join an 
accessory firm in a selling capacitr. 



Mutual Broadcasting System sent 
a spokesman around to various trade 
journals in New York last week to 
hash over the WLW-Mutual situation. 
Spokesman stated that at a meeting 
held between T. C. Streibert and 
Powel Crosley, Jr., on Sept. 28, a 
verbal agreement had been reached 
whereby WLW continues as a regu- 
lar web affiliate and will be peddled 
by the Mutual crowd as always. 

It was also stated that - WLW'S 
contract for the Ford world series 
games via NBC is . not to be con- 
strued as a reflection on the super- 
watter's relations with Mutual. 
Spokesman said that WLW had 
signed this contract while it was 
still a basic Mutual station and a 
stockholder to the amount of five 
shares. 



DAY AND NIGHT SHOWS 
BY NATIONAL ICE 



National Ice will do two web 
shows through Donahue & Coe this 
fall, one a two-a-week daytime job 
via CBS and the other an evening 
musical for which- no web has been 
set. Same sponsor last season bank- 
rolled 'Parties at Pickfair.' 

Daytime show debuts Oct. 27, run- 
ning Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:45 
to noon as 'Homemaker's Exchange..' 
Hits 38 CBS stations. 

Evening stint calls for Gladys 
Swarthout, Frank Chapman and 
William Daly's orchestra. Starting 
date not. set, but plans are to run 
the show for 26 weeks commencing 
early next year, possibly on NBC. 



WBNX Protests Rival 
Stations' Murder Trial 
Idea; B'cast Squelched 



Elizabeth Smith, 22-year-old • unwed 
mother accused in Bronx County of 
killing her baby. WBNX executives 
wrote Justice Francis Martin. . Re- 
quest was squelched. 

During a recess in the impaneling 
of the jury, Jay Lewis, representing 
the two other stations, requested 
presiding Judge Harry Stackell to 
permit broadcasting the trial. Par- 
ticular request was referred to the 
Appellate Court. 

Judge cold-shouldered the sensa- 
tionalism involved. WBNX men- 
tioned the 'negative public service' 
results coming from such a stunt. 
It says it got a note of .thanks. 



Lux Attention-Caller Ok'd by CBS 
To Precede and Follow Baseball; 
Station Break Nod Sets Precedent 



■WBNX, Bronx-, raised a squawk 
last week over efforts of WAAT, 
Jersey City, and W2XR, New York, 

to air proceedings in murder trial of Lpleted in. 60 days; .after acceptance, 



Ann Arbor High Fidelity 
Station Held in Abeyance 

. Detroit, Oct. 6. 
Extensive . experiments in high 
fidelity and frequency are being held 
in abeyance at University of 
Michigan until Federal Communica- 
tions Commish takes final action on 
application for a 1,000-watt station 
in Ann Arbor. Station will have no 
financial .or executive affiliation with 
U., but Prof. Waldo M. Abbott, head 
of the University Broadcasting 
studios, and Fielding H. Yost, di- 
rector of athletics, are on the pro- 
posed station's board of directors. . 

Withdrawal of a previous applicay 
tion by another company, of which 
Coach Harry Kipke was a member, 
left the field open last week to the 
Ann Arbor Broadcasting Co. Abbott 
said the main studios can be com-. 



and that the University studios in 
Ann Arbor, and the Pease Aude in 
Ypsilanti, Mich., will be connected 
with the new station. 



PHILCO WON'T 
MAKE BELIEVE 
ANYMORE 



Art Shawd Out as 

CKLW Comm'l Mgr. 

Detroit, Oct: 6. 

Art Shawd, commercial manager 
of CKLW, .and staff member since 
station' opened in 1932, is out. 

Shawd, who was upped to post of 
commercial- manager in 1934 by 
George Storer, then the station's 
owner, also was acting manager for 
some time. No successor has been 
named as yet. 

,CKLW, now entirely Canadian 
owned, is without any direct broad- 
casts from the U. S. except through 
Mutual, With expiration of permit 
to air church services from Detroit, 
the station will bring its religious 
programs into the studios in Wind- 
sor while hegptiations are on for a 
new permit. 



'Good Will' Only 



Winnipeg, Oct-. 6. 

James Richardson's CJRC has a 
new policy for . sponsored programs 
on Sundays. 

Canadian Radio Commission reg- 
ulations, while not completely for- 
bidding Sunday - sponsored shows, 
does not regard them favorably, and 
no spot stuff is allowed. 

But if any sponsors want time on 
CJRC Sundays, they can get it if 
their copy is of a 'good-will* type. 
No plugging allowed; .just the fact 
that 'the following program is 
brought to you through the courtesy 
of . . .* 



DISC SPINNER SUED 

Los Angeles, Sept. 29. 
Second court- action within a 
month to restrain radio stations from 
spinning records without payment of 
A fee was instituted last Wednes- 
day (23) by American Society - of 
against KFAC and 



Radio Artists 
Yellow Cab. 

No damages 
vious suit. 



arc asked as in pre- 



Buffalo Union Troubles 
Settled, Remotes Restored 

Buffalo, Oct. 6. 

Buffalo Broadcasting Corp. has 
settled its musicians' union difficul- 
ties and WGR, WKBW again are 
permitted dance remotes. New union 
ruling is that station must have staff 
band of at least five men or .no re 
motes. B- TB. C. installed 6-pieCe 
combo Oct. 1, permitting Chez Ami 
(Ahge Lombardi band), Sagamore 
Ballroom (Allen Brooks band) and 
Savarin Cafe (Al Jenkins band) to 
return to air. 

Harold Austin, remoter from Dell- 
wood ballroom for fiv"e years, took 
his band over to WBEN middle of 
last month when union ruling went 
into effect. WBEN maintained a 
small staff band under Erwin 
Glucksman all summer. 



Aaronson Batons WHN 



Irving Aaronson, who, with his 
Commanders, has been a standard 
dance band leader for many "years, 
is with WHN, New ' York, as staff 
conductor. 

The Loew station's musical depart- 
ment,' headed by Don Albert, ,will 
include, besides Aaronson, Harry 
Silver and Joe Jordan, both vet the- 
atre orchestra conductors, and Con 
Maffy, organist 



Washington, Oct; 6. 

Jam into which Philco, Radio & 
Television .Corp. got itself with the 
Federal Trade Commission resulted 
in a promise that the outfit would 
quit palming off wax musical pro- 
grams as foreign broadcasts or re- 
broadcasts. . 1 

Radio-Television group stipulated 
last week that it would discontinue 
fooling knob-twisters through . .its 
'Around . the. World,, with Boake 
Carter' programs, in which Carter 
assertedly goes through the motions 
bf tuning in a musical program from 
a foreign transmitter, while listen- 
ers actually are being treated to 
some electrical transcriptions. 



Kathryn Cravens East 
For Pontiac Comment 

. • St. Louis, Oct. 6. 
Kathryn Cravens, news commen- 
tator on KMOX, left here Sunday 
(4) to start on a similar. Job with 
CBS under sponsorship of Pontiac. 
Automobile firm, through Mac-. 
Manus, John & Adams agency, 
launches a • three-a-week afternoon 
show Monday (12) entitled 'News 
Through a Woman's Eyes.' .Takes 
the 2 to 2:15 p. m. slot on 57 stations. 

Miss Cravens, in private life Mrs; 
Rutherford Cravens, has. been on 
KMOX for two and a half years. 1 
Mrs. W. G. Simrall goes to New 
Yprk with Miss Cravens in secre- 
tarial capacity. 



Violent Tone Marks Fan Mail Elicited 
'Good Will Court' Now on Network 



By 



NBC higher-ups « express them- 
selves as being somewhat disturbed 
by the class of mail which Chase & 
Sanborn Coffee's 'Good Will Court' 
has prompted. Network is accus- 
tomed to abusive letters but the 
venom which is injected into some 
of the 'Good Will' correspondence 
has served to establish a new high, 
or low, depending on the point of 
view, for violence of. listener reac- 
tion. 

Abusive letter-writing falls in 
various classifications but the type 
which has particularly caused the 
NBC furrowing of the brows is that 
which assumes the Mrs. Grundy 
stance and berates the network for 
allowihg such matters to be brought 
into the home. Compared to the 
favorable mail^ which the program 
draws, the squawk stuff is away in 
the minority, and one faction among 
NBC execs holds to the opinion that 
this will simmer down to a negli- 
gible few after a few more 'Good 
Will' programs haye been broadcast 



and the downcountry dial-twisters 
get used to the public airing of per- 
sonal woes. ... 

Most of the abusive letters take 
sides with the mike litigants. Some 
express the opinion that the man or 
woman didn't get what was really 
coming to him or her. Others assail 
the program for giving only one side 
of the case and not inviting the 
other party for his version, . while 
still others take the judges to task 
for the advice they give or, recalling 
that they themselves had been the 
sufferers of similar cases of injustice, 
heap abuse on their persecutors. 

J. Walter Thompson agency, which 
pilots the program, construes ihe 
violent letter-writing as a good 
omen. It recalls that the Chase & 
Sanborn show which received mail- 
bag on mailbag of raves turned out 
a first class flop from both the listen- 
ing percentage and coffee selling 
angles. That program was the short- 
lived operatic scries of Uvi years 
ago. 



• CBS established a precedent, if not 
a new policy, '. last week when it 
gave its stamp of approval to a sta- - 
Uon. break stunt which J. Walter 
Thompson had cooked up in behalf 
of Lux. Buying the spots which - 
came just before, and after the 
World Series broadcast of Monday 
(5), the soap account put on a 15 to 
50-word announcement calling, atte^w^. 
tion to Lux's version of 'Elmer the " 
Great' which would be aired over : 
the same station that evening. 

Network's affiliates looked warily 
on the bid for time from the Thomp- " 
son agency and a number of . them \ 
wired Columbia asking whether the 
matter was okay .with the web, and . 
also the series'- sponsor, the Ford 
Motor Co. CBS -shot back telegrams 
of reassurance. 

When Columbia took the situation 
up with N. W. Ayer, agency on the 
Ford account, it ; was told there 
would be no objection, as long as no . 
mention was. made, of the product . 
in the. announcement. Network 
passed this proviso: along to. Thomp- r 
son for guidance in framing its an- " 
nouncements. 

Stations Jittery 

Leeriness of the stations toward 
Thompson's ■ proposition was in line 
with a . rule which CBS has had in 
/effect for years, forbidding its affili- 
ates. to make use of any of the ■ '•■ 
breaks between network programs 
for commercial announcements. In a • 
joint campaign last year, the Associa- 
tion of National Advertisers and the 
American Association .of Advertising „ 
Agencies took drastic measures to ■'" 
suppress the practice among certain: 
local broadcasting of interpolating 
spot announcements . between net- _ 
work commercials. The twp asso^^-J 
ciations declared, that they . were . 
having stationsl. checked in various 
parts of the country and that, all : 
cases' of reported ,'time' chiseling' 
Would be referred to the networks • 
for rate rebates. 





FROM REPS 



Marschalk & Pratt agency, New 
York) has sent' a letter to all station 
sales representatives asking them to- 
submit -data on the stations, they sell. 
Request - states .that Marschalk Si 
Pratt is- setting up an office file to 
guide it on spot radio. . : 

Maps of both day find night cover- 
age are wanted, • George L. Trimble . 
makes the request for the agency. •*■' 



W Additions 

Chicago, Oct. 6. 
; Several additions to the WLS staff 
include Prank' Baker, for ' the past 
six months. With the. local' NBC con-, 
tinuity staff,, who' joins WLS to han- 
dle commercial- announcements, and 
Herb Morrison, coming- in from 
KQV, Pittsburgh, to double as an- 
nouncer and . production man. 

Additions on the talent end are 
the Rock Creek. Rangers and Sun- 
shine Sue from KRNT, Des Moines. 



XOBir MOVES OVEB 

. Philadelphia, Oct. 6. 
Jack Korn,- vice-prez of. Philip 
Klein agency, has resigned to join 
local office of Erwln, Wasey Co., Inc. 



Ward Joins Trans-Amer. 

Chicago, Oct. 6. 
J. M. Ward joins Transamerican 
office as account executive. 
' Ward was formerly with ihe Ch^j^ : 
cago Tribune in business survey de- 
partment. 




In New York 
Clarence Wheeler, WHEC, Roches- 
ter, 

M. C. Watters, WHEC, Rochester. 

In Chicago 
Elliott Stuckel, CBS, New York. 
Kelly Smith, Radio Sales, New 
York. 

Preston Peters, Free & Sleintngcr, 
New York. 



36 VARIETY 



SPORTS R EPO Rf S 



TOMORROWS FOOTBALL to- 
night 

With Rush Hughes, Michael Fitz- 

Maurlce, Dave Broekman's orch. 
30 Mins. 
Frl., 6 n.m. 

RAINIER BREWING CO, 
KFI, . Los Angeles' 

(Lord & Thomas) . 

This one is" a natural for Rush 
Hughes. Give him a football game 
to highlight or feenact and he's In 
his- element. ■ 

The Hughes personality motivates 
the half hour show and keeps it 
moving at a brisk clip.' Jack Runyon 
has built the production smartly 
around the narrator and .lets, him 
have his way. With a friendly voice 
that never* becomes raucous and. al- 
lows for .a diverting interlude of 
asides, Hughes gives the ^program 
enough persiflage'., to .balance., the 
heavy dramatics incidental to a re- 
enactment of- thrilling plays on the. 
grj<Br©ri. 

Musical section under Dave Broek- 
man's wand was a bit offside. Music 
at times was too- sweet for the na- 
ture of-, the : program^ A, tenor -was 

"used- where a- strong baritone or 
male :group, 'would, be more in^tune 
with the. 'occasion; Numbers 'in- the 
Broekman manner' were -wen turned ' 
out, 'excelling in the trick arrange- 
ments-which identrfiestrie.maestro. 

Hughes - confined his ' topical com- 
ments on the games ~to' be played 
following; day to the scores, of tor- 

' mer ■ years and ' expressions ' iron* 
coaches of competing ' schools. He 
steered clear df making predictions* 
which is? 4 gotfd way to stay, out of 
trouble,' and- at- the same time keep' 
everyone on: the sponsor's side; : 
'■ Mike VFitzmaurice, with a heavy 
Celtic ^ brogufc paired off with 
Hughes,:' calling off the games that 
got the goirig .over. He was in a bit 
too often with the commercials, 
brief though "they vere. • . . . 

Good feature is the' Gallery Of 
Gridiiroiri: Greats. Mayers who dis- 
tinguished themselves the previous 
week end . aire, saluted, ' . Rplnu' 



AUBURN vs. TULANE 
With Kelvin Israel 
ZENITH RADIO 
Saturday 

WBRC, Birmingham 

Down in this territory a pair of 
radio set makers-r-Zenith and RCA 
Victor— are tilting over football 
tilts. Keenest rivalry goes on fo* 
first ranking iu broadcasting: of the 
games, with the result that the fans 
ate getting: the, "best football' calling 
heard jn a long spell. Often two 
stations, each bankrolled by brie of 
the rivals, carry.play-byr-play of the 
same game. 

Melvin Israel is doing broadcasts 
at WBRC for Zenith. He's easily the 
find of the year in Dixie 'in , news-, 
casting , and sports! BfCA took Kim. 
early in summer, to' handle news, 
over WBRC as a' buildup 'for foot- 
ball. He panped put' with the hews P 
but nqw is in' the rival bailiwick for. 
the . pigskin season. '. Although 'his', 
newscasting.was bette'r than his" foot-, 
ball, it's no; reflection on the latter; 
stint, which is still as good z. any-' 
thing, down here. . ' ... ' .] ' , 

'Handling of" the. Aupurh-Tulane- 
game was exceptional, in view of .tHe 
feet that the distance 'of ' tne!;g'ahie 
from this town necessitated. ,a ticker', 
report. Israel nonetheless turned, hi' 
a ^clear-cut' job,, and it- was. hard tp 
detect that it wasn't the real McCJoy. 
Sound effects, supplied by studio., 
Repetition of such- adjectives as' 
'beautiful' were fewer this week 
than in previous two games handled 
by. him. At exciting points Israel 



NOTRE DAME 
With A! Heifer 
OHIO on* .... . 
;■ Saturfaiya-' 
^LW, Cincinnati 

v:(RyeT .nVBotoman) ; . ^, 
This is the second year for OruO 
Oil to tie in with major college foot- 
/hjJL blasting on. Crosley's super 
Uwatfer. • Last season this sponsor 
. commercially tagged the games of 
Ohio State* Switch ;to -Notre: Dame 
was made oa the geHeral assumption 
that the South Bend contingent is 
tops in 'popularity throughout the 
U. S, Incidentally; Nofee'Dame does 
not charge for rights to its schedule*. 

Red Barber, who did a swell job- 
lor the oil outfit last year, was signed 
to encore this year. He missed out 
on Notre Dame's opener with Car- 
negie Tech, because of handling the 
World Series via NBC. Al Heifer 
resultantly was called in as under- 
. study;. Used to do football tor a 
Pittsburgh station before .joining 
WLW early this year, and during 
the baseball season assisted Barber 
in handling • the Reds'- games over 

• W6AI, Crosley's smallie sister-sta- 
tion to WLW-.' 

Because -WLW carried the series 
game Saturday (3); the Notre Dame' 
Carnegie tilt was in the second quar- 
ter before it got on the air.- In 
starting, out, Heifer had a lot of 
ground ' to "cover to 'get caught up 
with things, which made for allow- 
ances: ' He' was neglectful in popping 
off. with' the score; the natural point 
- of interest to dialers. Not for a 
couple of minutes,- in which he tried 
to detail line tips and rattle off de- 
scriptions, of field* weather condi- 
• tionk, etc., did he announce that, the 
^ As^fsn'.were out in front~7-0. 

Crowding- in too many words, 
> causing fast talking, incessantly, is a 
, Heifer etror that makes .it stiff for 
auditors. He likewise .missed tell-, 
ing tfye' main point of the- Carnegie 
. touchdown' in the "very .last part of 
. the ' Second ' quarter, which made 
things close at that' points For too 
many seconds he told about things 
other^h'an the touchdown. . 

In Efelfer's fayor are his knowlr 
edge .of the g#me, allo'wing, for good 
descriptions of formations. And he 
was smart in quickly dishing out 
names of the players, which is a 
major achievement, what with Notre 
Dame.'s trick and tease handles. 

Judgment exercised s on commcr-. 
clal plugs, which were handled by 
another mikeihan< 'They were spot- 
ted in. non-play , periods and were 
'riot unpleasant. .... Xoll.' % 

NORTHWESTERN U. 
With, Buss Hodges 
CHICAGO NORTHWESTERN R. R. 

Saturdays ' • • '. ' 

• YfSf>, Chicago 
{Capttit)- ' 

RuSjs! . Hodges has a .Midwest . rep 
for 'hj* ^play-by-play. ' In /"baseball, 
footb&U; .hockey tod. pther sanies.' 
Style 1 , is. fofcefuL JuU, '{tf action and 
without the usyal' stumble? of .over- 
excited, spielpys. 'He-, his a nifty,, au- 
thori^tiYe Way- of describing plays, 
and everything sounds clear through 
the loudspeaker; . . ' ' .' ... 

•Co^ma>iei^^i^^h^dle4 '■without' 
any &]3rjig, a^d .arja , hot . worked In, 
ca^ua^^id/int^^^ .col^ pfl thfc 

Tdlie^^tfl^j^'o^M^.^d^qit •#c-.. 
waaonal *t£mfj &ij(L JPffiffc Wfr -tor, 
rau>oad >tl saitvieec, ana especially for 
the streamlined '400' tram. Gold. 



maintained pois^'although keeping" 
away from'matter-of-facme'ss. : Artd, 
of course, there Were rid errors; the 
ticker doesn't get nervous. '• ; 

/ Commercials were handled by an- 
other mike mam They appeared \to. 
be longer than those oh the ^com-.. 
peting station and more frequent. 

,"•'."' Brourh. ■ 

AL ABRAMS .' A/- . 
With* SM Dickler's «r«h. Jack Cradr 
v dock' 

Sporty Masle . 
3«'Mins^ . .. ■-: ■ ,■ 

DUQUESNE BREWING! GO. < 
Fridays, 1 ?.n. EST 
WWSW» Pittsburgh 

..Smoky. City, wife Its three" 



leges all. sporting grid teams, 



col- 

_ _ is a 

natural set-up for a- half hour T peri"6d' 
of this sort. What's, inorei buquesne 
suds have- corralled "a . journalist 
sports name to give the period lis- 
tener, appeal. For lasjt',few years*,. AI 
Abranis, under acadabra cognomen 
of La Marba (his. .name, spelled 
backwards) has' been picking the 
winners every week 'end in his. 
-sheet, the Post-Gazette, and getting 
plenty : of .attention.: Last- season, he : 
was tops oh percentage, leading the- 
field with better than .850 on- wins 
and losses. ., 

Abrams. has a pleasant, -natural' 
speaking, voice and doesn't, try to 
jump-Ht up for. the air, which lends 
an even more authoritative^ signifi- 
cance to his predictions. He divides- 
his spiel into, three spots, first call- 
ing 'em on the contests here and in 
tri-state area, then taking up other' 
sections of the country. Sports writer 
is! led easily into his predictions, 
being- queried by Jack Craddock, 
•WWSW's sports announcer, as to 
what, he thinks. .From then on, 
Abrams tells why. 

Sid Didder's band fills in with 
Some Iistenable music, : going ■ in. 
chiefly for college tunes, but also 
allotting some time for pops. Com- 
mercial plugs are brought in .quietly 
and don't intrude .too much. Pro- 
gram's set for duration of football . 
season and looks like a buy for the 
brewery. Cohen. 



UCLA vs. MONTANA 
With- Tom Hanlon 
ASSOCIATED OIL 
KFAC, Lh Amgeles 

(.Lord & Thomas) 
Coast football fans are accustomed 
to two 'distinct styles of airing games. 
One is the steady drone of plays as 
they are run oft— the experting from 1 
the booth. Other is the hypo- style 
of gabbing. Locals .like. the. latter. 
What they want is. showmanship in 
the parlor. . , 

' Tom Hanlon, who called 'em froth 
the Coliseum where the University 
of California at Los' Angeles came 
to grips with- the Montana bunch, 
belongs in the category of those who 
ladle it out straight. It's hard to get 
excited with Hanlon at the controls. 
But perhaps he might have, warmed 
up more to his subject had not the. 
game been so lopsided. UCLA buried 
the Grizzlies under' a vast score." 
. Hanlon is best known in these 
parts for his handling of bands from 
tjhe Cocoanut Grove, which he does 
smartly. But it's a far- cry from .the 
slick Grove floor ta the striped tuff- 
9i .the Coliseum. It requires a flexible, 
personality, to fill both,. bills, and' 
Hanlon is not a turnaround batter. 
• . Associated Oil has the' Coast con- 
ference games sewed up. Paid 
$2:10,000 for broadcast rights'. Com- - 
pany picks its own announcers; 
paying from $50- to $250 per game. 
Don Wilson (Jack Benny's announ- 
cer) draws top coin; reputedly". He 
Handles some of the "games in this 
sector. Up north along ; the Coast is 
Ernie Srhith' at- the -mike.' Both .these 
boys have the McNamee enthusiasm, ° 
and never let the game down,, no 
matter what; the score. Not so' Han-. 
Ion. It's, all the same to him' whethejr 
they're digging . |n . under the goal 
posts or falling, asleep in midfield. 
- Associated throws in plugs at 
every , opportunity (and has exten- 
sive advertising: for the games in 
papers and on billboards). Time out 
periods are its- meat. H6wever r to. 
Associated's credit it never allows 
the ad matter to interfere with the 
actual game. At- the signoff there's 
the usual invite for mailed expres- 
sions. Plugs on the whole are slight- 
ly overboard, but so is every other 
sponsored, gndder around" here. 
' On game caught, Hanlon 1 spieled 
'■ all the way- except at the half when 
he ' rested while ah Associated rep 
brought in a few worthies of the op- 
posing camp to air their views. Oc- 
casionally control was switched- to 
the field, for a band pickup. There 
was something technically cockeyed 
here, for 1 it caime through badly 
messed. *• 

*• Bob Tonge, KFCA staff announcef, 
did the observing for Hanlon. 

. .-Helm. ' 



GEORGETOWN vs. DELAWARE 
Wttfc Herman. Rcttaes, J. Gorman 

Walsh 
ATLANTIC REFINING 
Saturday, 2:15 |a. EST - " 
WDEL, Wilmington 

' ; (N. W. Aver) "- 
First, football; broadcast. (3,) went 
over in .okay , form with ' .perman 
Reitzes, station . sports conuneniatqr, 
capably handling " 



PITTSBURGH 
With Ed Spngue 
ATLANTIC REFINING 
Saturdays 
WCAE, Pittsburgh 

(N. W. Aw'er) . 
For broadcasts oif the Pitt home 
schedule, Atlantic Refining" has 
named Ed Sprague, veteran sports 
annoutifcer of KDKA and before that 
WWSW. Sprague is the straightfor- 
ward type of spieler. No fireworks. 
Everything unadulterated, uncolored, 
and without bias. 

' Account ■ of the Pitt-West Virginia 
fray, which was as. good as a walk- 
away for the locals, was interrupted 
with calling 'substitutions on the 
field.' That wasn't Sprague's fault, 
however. It was, just that kind oi 
game,, He follows the ball quickly, 
spots - his players, and has few, if 
any, mistakes, tb' gloss over. . 
t Between ' halves, nuke is switched 
to the . regular press bo'x, where 
Frank CSirver; sports publicity, dir 
rector', tor Pift, takes . charge^ He' 
puts on newspaper names, visiting 
coachesj scouts, and 'celebrities, and. 
varies the usual summaries that 
mark average broadcasts. /'"..• 

•v Commercial plugs are limited to 
beginning, end ' and in-between, 
periods, 'None ' while ■ game is in 
progress. Sprague handles the. 
blurblng, too, and keeps it ahm£ 
Sensible, business-like lines, without 
sideshow leanings.' • Cohen.. 

RICHMOND ya. ROANOKE 



WORLD SERIES 

Baseball 

FORD 

WEAF, WJZ> WABC, WOR, WHN, 
New York , 

(N, W. Ayer). f .. 
Ford Motor Co. again captured the 
broadcasting of the annual baseball 
classic, paying $100,000 to the Na- 
tional- and- American Leagues and 
plenty, to the radio companies. When 
it is. figured that the description 'of 
the games is 'being carried by nearly 
every major station in the country 
and almost, every network, then it is 
almost' impossible to figure the cost 
in radio tuiie; at least, until it's all 
over.-/ .''■••'■ 
' Ford's arrangement with the radio . 
companies '(at least those which are 
being paid to carry the broadcasts) 
calls for one-hour dafly at card rates;' 
all time oyer an hour at the rate of 
so much per minute by special ar- 
rangement with the stations. 
...As Iastyear, and. the year before" 
that, -N. W, Ay'er's handling of the . 
broadcasts, of the Giant T yankee se- 
ries fpr For4.is superb^ The com- 
inercialS are ihighl'y. dignifiedw. brief 
and Spaced so- far apart that. there 
cannot even be the slightest hint' of 
overstress? ; Considering' the- terrific 
spot Ford is irjt to reach millions of - 
listeners daily the country , over, and 
chiefly .men^. then .Ford;, or N... W. - 
Ayer r or -both, must.. be roundly 
praised for not takmg too much, ad- 
vantage of a .juicy, situation. ■> " 
. Handling of the games by the vari- 
ous announcers on the various sta- 
tions kr also commendable^ there be- 
ing no boners of any- consequence,- , 



££%*Ll !U:lta6B ' ?* c6t ^ lei ^W "no guessing aiid no. misplace expert 
ATLANTIC*REFINING ^ - : , 1 ?t has-been. strMUr : a o« 
Virginia System with. WRY A, WDBJ' 



dling* the play-by-play. 
J. Gorman ' Wal6h, WDEL's No. 1 



mikeman, took over the commercial 
and inter-period comment. Oii/at 
2:15 and off at 5 pjn. with no breaks, 
or drags. 

Strong alumni fojlowing and big 
manner in which the Reitzes- Walsh 
combo functioned from the ' Wash- 
ington. D. C. press box got good 
phone reaction, which ought to hold 
for the, rest of the series in which 
WDEL will follow the teah% through 
the season. . , Wilmington .reception' 

tops. ....... 

. ' Reitzes' description was ' graphic,, 
and exhibited knowledge of the 
game. Muffed here and there in. ex- 
citing spots, but' usually talked on 
top. of the cheering crescendos. 
Splotches in the airing could easily 
be ironed if Reitzes did a little more 
home work on players and their' 
careers before he stepped to the' 
mike. ... ... ; . 

. ' Combination of pnxfyi. restrained 
advertising, copy;: ; . and ; bunchy; de- 
lrteryYby Walsh, maqe;.uie. blurbing, 
effective., Walsh .shqw$d;ppi&e .and 
:assuran9e^ a,nd di^'hls-palavertWith 
enough ehthjjSiasm.'ta'tide.-'Qyeif. the 
,}ntermfssioris N^.;e'aae J :( > _ ' ' ;'•'. 
' Technically. thftiOfs ^Mjld 1 pe.Ijm;- 
pifpved .ir'the/ bo^^opdl^ei-m^rft 
<iaref ^M^}^ prm,«oop v 
•against outside .nol^fts. ■.-.Ra.okei 
marred At - "'— '- 



DUKE U. 

With Charles Crutchfield 
ATLANTIC REFINING 
Saturdays 

W9T, Charlotte . 

(Pf. W. Ayer) 
. ^Etherizing the Duke^South Caro- 
lina game, Charlie Crutchneld pulled 
through in A-l shape. . He was in- 
itiated to Dixie sport fans some- time 
ago through his broadcasts of the 
National American Legion " Junior 
baseball semi-finals and Little World 
Scries. '• 

Voice booms out loudly, but pleas- 
antly, and is one - of the most dis- 
tinct heard in these parts. Capable 
of Sagging without having listeners 
split a blood vessel, and auick on the 
trigger during emergencies. During 
game caught; fans messed up his 
field equipment so band wouldn't 
register, but Crutchneld . good- 
naturedly explained the incident and 
continued with splendid resume of 
highlights - anent players. Then 
topped improvised side-show with 
a voHey of Atlantic. pluas, and intro- 
duction of • 'my good friend' Gov. 
Olin D. Johnston. Latter came into 
the booth for a spiel 

Descriptions were all that -could 
be asked for. Plugs were brief, 
though pretty, frequent, ' and., not 
detriment 'to game. 
. Atlantic will continue using WBT 
on- Saturdays -with -a mixed , schedule 
containing Duke, Nnrth . Carolina and 
South Carolina.. WFBC and WSPA, 
with Coca-Cola sponsoring, are the 
opposish. ■ Ndwes. 



tiH. W. Aper) 
Three observers, who- know foot- 
ball and .mike technique— yet don't 
makerthe most of it.. This tilt came 
,ip half-and-half; poor at the start, 
good at .the, finish. The boys should 
iron out, their, work. Gommercials 
were 100% in placing and delivery. 

To handle this intercity classic, 
those in charge- chose Glenn Jack- 
son, WLVA's (Lynchburg) sports re- 
porter, for the running comment; 
Pecoe Gleason,, from Charlottesville's 
WCHV, for the pre-game dope and 
commercials, and Gene Wager, for- 
mer U. of Va. football ace, as ob- 
server. 

Jackson, who started in a high- 
pitched voice a la Clem McCarthy, 
got too enthusiastic when there Was 
no", reason for it oh the field.- This 
flaw was too evident to be missed. 
Trouble at the start, too, in naming 
.the players instantly. .However, as 
the fray . progressed, Jackson went 
into his natural voice, and things 
began., to flow more smoothly and 
impressively. Broadcast made a big 
improvement at 'the finish. 
. Pre-game .comment had . Gleason 
reading from a script and ad hbtring. 
Former .came through like a class in 
catechism — including ajl. that an- 
cient history about, the invention of 
the flying wedge. Gleason's smooth 
ad libbing was a welcome relief,- 
and he ought- to stick to it 100%. 
It's his . forte, and he has plenty 
oh the ball- in this department. Com- 
mercials well-placed and read. Copy 
hot too. long, either. "Resembles to 
some degree, the policy of Ford's 
high-minded ether plugging (pro- 
duced by the same agency). . 

Kiss. 



HOLY CROSS vs. PROVIDENCE 
With Jack Ihgersoll 
ATLANTIC REFINING 
Saturday 

WMR, Providence. . 

' (N. W: Ayer) 

. Good job, all things considered— 
and among the things to be' con- 
sidered are .Atlantic's bhirbs which 
are polite to the point of commenda- 
tion. Play'-l>y-play itself rates nice- 
ly, with, only one drawback. Once 
in a while it sounded as though it 
had been too carefully, rehearsed. 
But for general clarity, ariq effective- 
ness, no apologies. ..* < 

. Program got off' on the Trigjit -foot 
at the very start, when an announce- 
ment was made that the commercial 
palaver* wauld/be' limited to finish* 
of periods. . At that the'.^cPpy was 
boiled- into?terse packages^ except ..at" 
the end. of ^ffie -i*.-^- 
td 



e half When jit'^'anie. 

„. _ — . 535 .w6r4^. 'CoiMjiSrjiials,' 
.while;- stipkiqg close.- tp ..the ./beaten, 
^path.^ jyere- paswbie^pieW.sfe^ >. 
trated on quapt^;pt.\^te i Fl^6h,^s x ^ 
and dealer 'service. *" 



GBORGIA U- 

With Marcus Bartleft, John Tiplman 

Lamhdin Kay. 
ATLANTIC REFINING 
Saturday^ 2:15 p.m. 
WSB, Atlanta 

(N. W. Ayer) 
Clash Saturday (3) between Geor- 
gia and. Fur man at Athens yiras. aired 
Creditably by Marcus Bartlett, erst- 
while musical director of WSB. Ex- 
cept tor 'a "penchant for pushing 
psiiedo-excitement into the clutohes 
and a tendency to give' the home 
boys the best of it, Bartlett's miking 
passed muster. 

Broadcasts . usually - commence at 
2:15 p.m. CST, but with the- World 
Series on tap,- the -Furman-Georgia 
tilt had to wait until the'liprsehide 
was stowed away. This put Bartlett 
into, the hole, forcing him to broad- 
cast current play-by-play and also 
catch up with what had already hap- 
pened. Start was a little shaky, but 
to be expected in view of the un- 
usual assignment Bartlett's . style 
revealed a study . of the -game, al- 
though he never^. played, and- his 
voice is okay. ■ ' 

Commercials;' .handled hy John 
Tiplman, consisted of 30-second an- 
nouncements between periods, with 
about four • minutes, divided into 
equal sections! between halves. Plugs 
were , mainly for Atlantic's White 
Flash gasi with the final one being' 
an invite for' fans to tune' in on At- 
lantic's broadcast of Georgla-L.S.S. 
game at Batori' Rou'ge: . u '.'•; 

Betweeri, ; halves-'mike -vsjaS' turned 
over: to. 'Erne'st Rogers, in Atlanta,: 
who ' gave brief resume' Of-flrst quaf 1 
ter development 'at game between 
Georgia'. Tech and Se^ahe'e ,£n. At 



straight-reporting -oh' the part of all 
the commentators. "They've been im- 
partial in a? series which, because of' 
its, intra-city flavor, has been highly 
controversial; The -one thing the an- 
nouncers' could hot 'prevent was. the 
super-suspense that ■ crops into the 
broadcasting of any sporting event; 
fans at the games - can see the plays 
as they happen, while those on the 
other- end of a loudspeaker have to 
depend on. the announcers, and some 
of the sithiatiohs can - become very, 
tense,' especially for a rabid fan. 

For NBC, tor both the blue and the 
red networks, Ty Tyson of/WWJ", De- 
troit; Red Barber, of WLW, Cincin- 
nati, and Warren Brown, of the Chi- 
cago' Herald-Examiner, divided the 
play-by-play ahnouncing, each taking 
three Minin gs- of each game. Tom. 
Manning, of WTAM, Cleveland, han- 
dled the commercials and color. 

Fox' Mutual Bob Elson. of WGN. 
Chicago, and Tony. Wakeman of 
WOL, Washington, broadcast. the ac- 
tion, while Gabriel Heatter delivered 
the color and commercials. 

CBS had- France L'aux of St. Louis 
and Bill Dwyer of WCAU, Philadel- 
phia, doing the action, commercials 
and color.. . 

WHN, the fourth station in New 
York carrying the "broadcasts of the 
games,- got it from Mutual, carrying, 
the same broadcast apd personnel as 
WOR. ' ' ■ 

There is little to choose from 
among the announcing staffs during 
any of the games played thus far, 
almost all of them being equally 
adept at calling plays and furnishing 
color. Best job of the series, of 
course, was done the opening day, 
Sept. 30, when most of the game was 
played in a downpour. But here 
again the wetness and misery of the 
crowd was deftly described by all the 
announcers, and all equally good. - 

All in all, this broadcast of the 
Series is a credit all around. 'Scho. 



High School 



EST- 



FOOTBALL FORUM 
With Skip Walls, 

' Coaches 
Sustaining 
15 Mins. 

Wethtesday; 7:45 pjn. 
WNEW, New York 

WNEW's stunt to catch high school 
students ! and make them WNEW- 
conscious. Got under way in rather 
ponderous fashion. Initial program, 
bringing high schools coaches in 
New York City and nearby New 
Jersey towns to the microphone was 
saved by the ingratiating personality 
of Skip Walls, former NA'.U. grid 
player, who- is handling football and 
other sports material at the station. 

.His line of questioning of the high r 
football mentors gave a fairly con- 
cise picture of prospects for the team 
involved. Little question that the 
material will appeal to ' student 
listeners of schools involved. 

Wear. 



IhgprsOll a ut5m^y(wr .A- ( _ 

4;.t h ^8 a ^-.W,^m^.pla^ . r bler,^e,la|OWs Bis plgs^qn and Mr: .'a . radio, .station, he can't ■ taatcb it 
Cttft. 'easy to tollbw. More. with grid spieling. Luch. 



ALABAMA vs. CLEMSON 
WHlt Bill Mundsy 
RCA VICTOR 
Saturday 

WAFL BlrmiDgham 

•WAPI .went out of town tp get 
Bill Munday, former NBC. sports 
spieler' and erstwhile sports editor 
of the' Atlanta 'Journal, tb.come over 
and jgiye- Melvin' Israel -of 'WBRC 
sdme "'competish'.' .Muriday .'gained a 
rdp wherihe called the George Tech 
Rose. Bpwl ga.rne a few years' back.'. 
His past laurels, however, aren't 
going to* help him out much here" in 
view 6f his Opposition. ' 
./White Muhday can turn'' oh plenty 
of clarity, he makes . numerous 
'errors; Once' he' thah'gfea hls'state- 
j rhen^ three times before crackaig" 

- — j:- ■umJl^'u^ ~>v..l . w^+xk, ^n-cpatter was 'somewhat superior .to 




% spell ' flVtie^' 'dufW" 
Xay^TOicej^yfa;? ,toq hij 



(Continued on page 42\ 



Wednesday, October 7, 1936 



RAD I 



E P 



T S 



VARIETY 



37 



JOE PENNEE 

With. Jimmy Grier'a Orcb., Trudy 
' wood, BUI Goodwin, Martha Went, 
worth, Loo Merrill, Nancy Leach, 
Tom Lawrence, Dick Byan 

Variety Show. 

31 Mins, 

jr. B. DAVIS CO. (Cooomalt) 
Sanday, 6-6:30 p.m. EST 
WABC-CBS, New. York 

(Ruthrauff dV Ryan) 
- New Joe Penner show originates 
from L° s Angeles with Jimmy 

■ Grier.'s Bittmore Bowl (L.A.) orches- 
tra as the musical backer-upper and 
Penner getting in a mention of his 
current RKO film contract. Sponsor 

, is- Cocomalt and the kidded plug 
comes in for its usual quota of men- 
tions, which is all right, excepting 

• that the introductory doesn't fit 
when an opening, jingle, avers, 'It 
might be surprising, but there'll be 

. , no advertising,' whereupon 'Goody- 
Goody' catch-phrase further' points 
it up, However, just the opposite 
. takes'place. 

" ...As produced by Nate Tufts of the 
■ Bwthraufl & Ryan agency, the ,f or- 

• inula of the hew Penner Family air 
' show is fraught with considerable 
'promise. First time out was a pretty 

: . good starter-offer, albeit a bit spotty 
■■ qji its laugh returns'. But the frame- 

■work Is. serviceable, and only future 
: scripting shortcomings can defeat its 

becoming an .important, early Sun- 
' day Evening half hour. ■ 

V The' Park Avenoo Penners are 1 well 
. established as being not particularly 
' keen about their black-sheep son, 

Joe, The muggery at the dinner 

table in the elite household next 
!> shifts the action to a pubjic school 

• where Joe has been sent for some 
educational culture. This is just the 
old schoolroom hokum of the Gus 

-Edwards era. 30 years ago excepting 
that it's been tuned down^ It wiS 
probably be further developed to in- 
dude"-the usual. tough kid, the sissy, 
: etc;* SO far .only Montgomery Katz 

• has been introduced and his kosher 
comedy was like.wise spotty. . High- 

. light of .this sequence -were some 
knock-knocks, which gives an idea. 

t)h Gee.' It's Good to Be Back' 
ttas the sign-off song specialty by 
the stellar comedian, an ingratiating 
enough and somewhat folksy curtsy 
to sponsorship once again, . It's hu- 
man audience stuff. Then Penner 

• intros^Gner as his pal and maestro, 
and finally Bill Goodwin, the an- 

. nouncer, which is a natural cue for 
the sign-off commercial 'bally. 

Grier's orchestral interludes are 
•more j or less incidental with Trudy 
wood announced, by name for her 
vocal^chbrusrbf 'How'm I Doing With 

- Supporting cast very professional 
..and effective in their chores Ifrom 
the Godfrey (butter) character to 



the. exaggerated socialite mama, 
papa, Egbert, Archie and Gwendo- 
lyn, the rest of the family. Best sec- 
^ ondary voice, however, is that of the 
schoolteacher's, ' a very engaging 
address. 

Penher's first of the new series, as 
stated, is more portentous in its 
promise, than signally socko, per se, 
on its own. His author is Harry 
conn,, formerly the Jack Benny pro- 
gram writer. A script show is some- 
thing new for Conn, also for. Penner, 
With the latter the first top air comic 
to try fine. Abei . 



JOHN McCOBMACK 

With Leopold Stbkowskl, Phlladel- 
phia Orch., Milton Cross 
Songs, Symphony 
GENERAL MOTORS 
KYW, Philadelphia 

' ' fCompbell-Eujald) 

One-time General Motors Sunday 
(4) night concert from Philadelphia 
was grand job of showmanship. John 
McCormack and Leopold Stokowski 
teamed as sure-fire bell ringers. 
Program was shrewdly constructed 
to set off their talents. 

Arranged by Philadelphia Cham- 
ber of Commerce, session was aired 
from Philly's historic "Academy of 
Music, with audience of capacity 
3,400 on hand. Had been planned to 
originate from Mastbaum theatre, 
seating 4,700, but proposition fell 
through. Affair was full-length con- 
cert, but first portion, with Erno 
Rapee batoning was hot broadcast. 
Rest went over NBC red. 

Cross' introductory remarks were 
juicy build-up, combining brief but 
effective description of locale, with 
sendroff for stars and orchestra. In 
light of what followed on program it 
was anything but exaggeration. Pro- 
gram was deftly selected and showed 
good variation; Irish tenor contrib- 
uted • four • selections, and symph 
tossed in another quartet of numbers. 

Making-- first visit to America in 
two years,:.McCormack again showed 
what has made, him one of most pop- 
ular Concert artists of all time. His 
Voice i no longer has fire and life of 
old and his range has diminished. 
But, even via loudspeaker, his per- 
sonality is electric, bis tones rich 
with emotion. -Particularly on his 
final number, 'Kathleen Mavourneen,' 
he showed that singing can. be done 
with the heart more than the voice. 

'Stokowski's portion of show was 
chosen with smart eye for his strong 
points. Opened with Bach 'Aria' and 
closed with Liebestod, from Tristan 
and Isolde.' Both those compositions 
are right up Stoky's musical alley. 
He is acknowledged master of Bach, 
and his Wagner is close behind. 
Same. rich tone that has always been 
his distinct trademark was. manifest 
in orchestra's playing under his' di- 
rection. If fact hadn't already been 
proved, this broadcast demonstrated 
that Stoky can make classics almost 
as exciting by radio .as. his presence 
can make them in a concert hall. 

Hole. 



Follow-Up Comment 



Amos V Andy, who sometimes 
sermonize in dialog on timely but 
non-controversial questions, threw 
the weight of their support behind 
the get-but-a-full-vote-in-the-election 
campaign during an episode broad- 
cast over the NBC red rim for Pep- 
sodent. The philosophical Amos ex- 
plained to the scatter-brained Andy 
why the Tatter's vote would count as 
much as anyone else's in the Novem- 
ber balloting. He said that persons 
who could and did not vote were 
'crazy'; that those who failed to ex- 
ercise the franchise privilege had no 
right to criticize the conduct of pub- 
lic affairs. 

Pair talked about the presidential 
campaign, but skillfully avoided tak- 
ing sides between -the Democratic 
and Republican parties (they men- 
tioning both). Amos did comment on 
the 'big promises' made by parties 
at election time and expressed won- 
derment on the reason which led 
men to spend five limes as much for 
campaign purposes as they would re- 
ceive during a year of office holding 
if victorious. 



•SNOW VILLAGE SKETCHES' 
With Arthur Allen, Parker Fennolly, 

. »l Kate McComb, Robert Strauss 
Drama 
30 Mlns. 
LOOSE-WILES 
Saturday, 9 p.m., EST 
WEAF, New York 

(.Newell-Emmett) 

Pn B « n . in , 1?28, this series of New 
England sketches is now in its sec- 
*ZL <i h . lldhood so far as physical 
.lormat is concerned. Time was when 
once-a-week < was enough for any 
♦K^Hl sei 2 es > and authors howled 
™«,.iii f l hey l h£ >d to write faster they 
wouldn't get anything better than a 
~ u- But , that was to 1928. Now 
. k characters are dragged on 
th»J a ; We .? k> 15 min utes a throw. If 

■'S^fA^i appear £ h&t often » ttey' 1 ' 

™J Teotien . m the scuffle. Also, 
sponsors want frequency so they can 

•■ELS? 1 * ^tops. more ballyhoo in 

fn M ? Ty stores » and more comment 
m the press. 

«*? now Y?. Ia 8 e Sketches' is too lily 
flmJ J n ttns res P e ct. There aren't 
any requests for boxlops-although 
™ uit bl2 > like a» grocery lints, 
it e swam ped in competish. And 
■ ir «?° mes . ? n only once weekly, Sat- 
e« ay -u ^ hts at that: s °me follow- 
ers will be around to tune it in, but 

chon^ e < to . say 11134 if tt were 
,. in . to flve pieces - the odds 
lower 11?tener "tings would be 

-ft££ n «7 Fish Carlton and William 
,.£t.\ nl ey continue to script, al- 
tKf ^ openin.? stanza (3) men- 
Iatter - Harold Magee 
lucewlse holds his berth as director. 

aenpt on the whole has an edge on 
•n 6 . ave rage rural characterization, 
•inere s some stereotype to the roles. 
SSI * on M ? ,e who1 * the y manage to 
lAi;E e , tty we11 into the. quaint class. 
iw g ^splendid. Arthur Allen and 
£arker Fennelly hold the lead per- 
lormances down capably, while Rob* 
ert Strauss cut himself a nice niche 
niL*? opener through a sustained 
gepictlon of a' poverty-stricken dead- 



EDWIN C. HILL 

With. Harry Sosnlk Orch. 

News, Music 

30 Mlns. 

REALSILK 

Sunday, 10 p.m. EST 

WJZ, New York 

(Burnett) 
Edwin C. Hill takes a flyer at m.c, 
chores in Realsilk's' new series, a 
role in which he does not run wild 
Program has two distinct production 
features, . first an interview stanza 
with either 'Mr. or Mrs. Average 
Man.f ' and then a city desk dramafi 
zation. Coupled with Harry Sosnik's 
pleasant musjc, the show hits a pop- 
ular batting average. 

Half hour program does not go 
after the hackeyed front-page 
stories, and in this instance stuck to 
its original plan. Hazel Cochrane, 
air stewardess, down for the guest 
appearance to chat informally with 
Hill. It contained enough human in- 
terest material to hold. Dramatiza- 
tion in the closing quarter hour, re- 
volved around Will Irwin's story of 
the San Francisco earthquake for the 
Sun in 1906, which was socko in Its 
colorful and suspenseful appeal. 

Hill's particular duties are confined 
to being 'Spectator of the American 
Scene,' a rather high-toned label but 
not overdone after he gets started. 
He is past master at the calm, well 
poised style c- news comment/Free- 
dom from sensationalism is an asset 
which serves well on the hosiery 
program. 

News gets a going over first, but is 
a teaser for the meaty stints which 
follow. Interview and dramatization 
dominate, with the spieler presiding 
graciously. • Sosnik's music is as 
much atmospheric as straight dance 
forte. Brol. 



biscuits. 



SHEP FIELDS' ORCHESTRA 
With Frank Fay, Lanny Robs, Helen 
Jepson, Dana Doran, Ben Grauer, 
Fred Uttal 
30 Mins. 
RADIO GUIDE 
Friday, 10 p.m., EST 
WJZ, New York 

(.Lord & Thomas) 
This is a hew 30-minute offering 
commercially backed by the publish- 
ers of Radio Guide and Screen 
Guide, fan magazines, which sounds 
promising. With Shep Fields' orches- 
tra, an announcer, a master of cere- 
monies and Dana Doran, singer, as 
the foundation for weekly broad- 
casts, the program will draw upon 
personalities in radio and pictures 
as guest artists. 

Opening program suffered some- 
what from over-thick layer of ad- 
vertising icing but otherwise it 

E "roved clickful all the way. Fields 
and. opened playing a pop number, 
followed by Fay, who with the aid 
of feeding (apparently from Fred 
Uttal), gave out some good laughs. 

Dana Doran did .'Until -Today/ 
selling it exceedingly well. Nearinj; 
the close, Lanny Ross and Helen 
Jepson indulged some unimportant 

dialog before going into a double, 

Alhibst- sb\lWd' Itkfe^MaKe "Believe,' with the Fields or- 
chestra bringing up the close of the 
half hour interlude. Announcer 
Edga. Ben Grauer. Char. 



♦i,S^ mmerc,al Plugs are too mild for 
xneir. own good Ai*nW- oWtVtci. it^h 



i_„rr. swu. Almost sound' line 
hJ3« ™i tion al bliirblng; < which would » 
Srf^^ a n ew way to dispose of 



. Packard stanza of last - Tuesday 
(29) gave evidences of finding its 
groove. Was a more tightly-knit 
show. Fred Astaire and Charlie' But- 
terworth clicked nicely in the com- 
edy passages. 

While the Negro choir provided 
rich bolstering for the musical con- 
tent of the urogram, the choice of 
the Pixilated Sisters as the other 
guestees impressed as problematical. 
There must have been thousands of 
listeners-in that had not. seen 'Mr. 
Deeds Goes to Town* and on these 
the duo's oldmaid antics likely fell 
flat. Everi r the advantage of visual 
conception could not have been of 
much help in heightening the diver- 
sion possibilities on the receiving 
end. The. act was not only unfunny 
but it slowed up what was Other- 
wise a nifty gait. 

With Packard officials no longer 
injecting themselves into the pro- 
ceedings, the plug has resorted to the 
dramatic route and in bright and ef- 
fective manner. Last week's dialog 
session with the sales motive re- 
volved around a divorce court scene, 
the wife seeking the breakaway be- 
cause of the husband's penchant for 
gambling. The bet had been about 
one Packard model being as good as 
another, ' and the kindly judge with 
the southern dialect topped off the 
crossfire by allowing that he himself 
wouldn't mind betting on such a sure 
thing. 



FLOYD GIBBONS 

VINCENT LOPEZ ORCH. 

With Jones and. Hare, Grete Stueck 

grold 
30 Mins. 

NASH-LAFAYETTE 
Saturday, 9 p.m. EST 
WABC, New York 

(J. Walter Thompson) 
Nash Motors, new Saturday night 
series, combined Floyd Gibbons and 
Vincent Lopez "with several guest 
stars. Speed is stressed in copy and 
pace, with premier revealing a Gib- 
bons vs. Lopez tug-of-war to see 
which could operate the faster. Be- 
tween the glib combination and nim- 
ble fingering the listener was ; n rib- 
bons by the finale time. 

Globe-trotter's foreign gleanings 
were still warm. War-torn Spain 
and his escapades served as opening 
fodder, and they will probably last 
for several more. His flair for dra- 
matic pyrotechnics such as murder, 
starvation, assassination and slaugh- 
ter sound strange as a follow-up to 
swing music, and both departments 
suffer from this conglomerate mix- 
ing. Urge to lambast wears, 

Gibbons' style is breathless almost 
to the point of panting. He clinches 
a screaming headline with 'I know, 
I saw,' until it becomes funny. Span- 
ish squibs finally filtered out, with 
the speaker then starting . in on 
Nash-Lafayette. 

Lopez broadcasts with a shiny 
polish which is synonymous with his 
rep. He, too, managed to plug the 
sponsor in a jingle tune. Th ; s com- 
mercial flourish got workout steadily, 
with others doing the same thing. 
Running time was very close .on the 
initial program. Grete Stuckgold 
sang two numbers, combining opera 
with a popular tune. 

J. Walter Thompson agency could 
make it just as exciting by slacken- 
ing the pace. Brol. 



CHARLES RUGGLES 

With Matt Crawley, Ann Peers 

Comedy Skit 

ROYAL GELATIN ' 
Thurs., 8 p.m., EST 
WEAF, New York 

(J. Welter Thompson) ' 
Charles Ruggles is one of"th£ few 
comedians Of the screen who man- 
ages to duplicate his rare comic per- 
sonality on the radio. He's equally 
good in either medium of entertain- 
ment, particularly when favored 
with adequately written humorous 
material and strong support He gets 
both in this bit of f oolishment, called 
"The Average Man' written by Keith 
Fowler. " 

Story, which spots him as Fred 
Peabody, winner of the title of the 
American Average Man, is ideally 
suited for Ruggles' droll and shy de- 
livery.' His idiosyncrasies as such are 
brought , out when a reporter inter- 
views him after he's held this honor 
for a year. "Cross-fire 'patter brings 
out what the average map does about 
winter, underwear, what "Tiis*' golf 
score- should be, how many children 
he shoud have, etc. Builds up to, a 
neat climax with the average man 
hurrying his pistol shooting at his 
rival in- order to tune in on time for 
'Amos 'n* Andy.' 

Matt Crawley contributes nice work 
as the reporter, 'and small-allotmieht 
of lines for Ann Peers as the wife. 
It is the Charley Ruggles' comedy, 
however, that makes-the sketch tick. 
Tops on this Rudy Vallee broadcast. 

■ • ' \ Wear. • 



PEGGY FEARS 
Interview, Son? 
ROYAL GELATIN 
Thnrs., 8 p.m., EST 
WEAF, New" York 

(J. Walter Thompson) 

Peggy Fears, erstwhile play pro- 
ducer, actress and Broadway figure, 
brought considerable informality to 
this program in her interview with 
Rudy Vallee. Neat repartee between 
the maestro and herself. She ad- 
mitted, that she did not like Holly- 
wood because it was necessary to get 
up so early in order to be at work 
in the studios. 

Concluded her appearance by sing- 
ing These Foolish Things,' indicating 
a wobbly voice. Wear. 



AMATEUR SONG WRITERS . 

With Jack Arthur, Barbara LaMarr, 
Eleanor Sherry, Nat BrtfsUoffs 
Orch.. " 

Songs, Music - 

30. Mins. - 

Thursdays, 8 p.ln^ EST. * 
WOR, New York. 

. Last season's amateur songwriters' 
contest, idea launched on 'WMCA^y 
Joe Howard and" Billy Jackson^ is on 
WOR this year .under new Auspices/ 
and considerably improved. This sta- 
tion is giving it a lot of help, in a pro- 
duction way and in the presentment. 

Jack Arthur, Barbara" -LaMarr and 
Eleanor Sherry for the singing and 
Nat Brusiloffs corking orchestra for 
the music and arrangement are cer- 
tainly a break for the Simon-pure 
tunesmiths who submit their stuff for 
airing on this show. On the pro- 
gram caught the talent was several 
miles ahead of the material at 'all 
times. «... 

Another improvement was effected 
in having the contestants at the mike 
with their songs.- It gives the pro 
gram a .personal touch that formerly 
was lacking.' - '•, . ' v 

The finding of one hit .song w,ould 
give the program the. push it 'now 
needs and which otherwise can be 
gained only by > constant plugging of 
the' idea on the air and maintenance 
of the present high grade of presen 
tation. That a hit may be found 
wasn't indicated by the half dozen 
or so songs used last week, but 
there's always a chance "that one may 
show up among the many submitted 
weekly. 

Program's basic appeal is to the 
am song writing brigade, but there's 
enough good professional entertain- 
ment on the snow as set up to widen 
its general audience. \ Bige. 

STOOPNAGLE AND BUDD 

With Don Voorfcees orch. 
30 Mins. 

MINUTE TAPIOCA 
Sunday, 5:30 p. m. EST 
WJZ, New York 

(Young & Rubicam) 
Having concluded one job for this 
agency (pinch-hitting for Fred Allen 
during summer), .Stoopnagle and 
Budd start another on behalf of a 
General Foods product. It afforded 
a good opportunity for getting spon- 
sors, orchestra leaders, announcers, 
etc., mixed up all over the lot, and 
the chance wasn't missed; It's an old 
gag, but Stoopnagle and Bndd have 
the edge when it comes to pulling it. 
Trick lies largely in their pacing, 
which leisurely unfolds the bur- 
lesque without -ripping it to shreds. 

New show (4) was a pert bit of 
work all around. And the influx of 
fall programs ought to' keep the 
combo supplied with material for 
burlesquing awhile. Opener picked 
on 'Goodwill Court' and the various 
question-and-answer t.urns. Latter 
involved the use of the audience, 
candidates bjcing asked to spiel for 
one minute on such topics as 'red 
nail polish,' etc. Used for a close, it 
clicked. . Preceding It came a 'Mer- 
chant of Venice.' 

Stoopnagle and Budd is one team 
that never complains about running 
out of material, and, so far as the 
initial program of this series shows, 
there's no grounds for any such com- 
plaints. Boys have plenty on the 
ball, and, while it's invariablv bur-, 
lesque, it registers. Edga. 

IRENE GEDNEY 

Pianist 

15 Mins. 

Sustaining 

Sunday 7 p.m. EST 

WHAM. Rochester, N. Y. 

In this program Irene Gedney 
combines exceptional playing ability 
with pleasing sketches of the music 
presented or of. the composer's, 
life. Miss Gedney has a sweet voice 
and pleasing radio personality. 

Numbers interpreted and played 
included Butterfly Etude, Girl with 
the Flaxen Hair, Sunken Cathedral 
and Arkansas Traveler, 

Don Harris announcer. Cord. 



JACK BENNY 

With Mary. Livingstone, Phil Harris 
Orch., Kenny Baker, Don -Wilson, 
Benny .Baker -w 

Comedy, Music 

30 Mlns. 

JELLO 

Snnday, 7-7:30 p.m; EST 
WEAF-NBC (red), New York 

(Young & Rubicam) 
The same socko. comedy returns 
marked Jack Benny's return to the 
NBC red (a switch from the. .blue) 
network, emanating from Hollywood, 
where the principal funster is tied up 
under Paramount contract. Benny s 
been dff the air 14 weeks, partially 
as vacation and partly' due to the 
production of. the 1937 ,*Big Broad- 
cast' for Par. If the comeback sample 
is any .criterion it- augurs . well for 
Benny continuing as . the No. 1 
comedy prdgram ort "'the air. V - 
. It's the same , stock, company, save 
for Phil Harris', Orchestra in jplace 
of Johnny -Green -(shifted to Pack- 
ard). And per usual, instead pi 
Johnny (or Don Bestor), Mary Liv- '*" 
Ingstone is 'now making up' to Harris, 1 
who is given an . appropriate intro, 
although the -strong comedy script 
got plenty of laugh returns from her 
tiew medico.- That doctor-bit; a play 
on looking 'tanned and rugged' and 
.a radio- reporter, we're running gags, 
the ,-latter' theUeast of ' it, but ade- 
quate.: - ■ • •-»:•;••.<> • • r 
• The same surefire formula, includ- ' 
ing Miss Livingstone's, dupnbdora in- . . 
terludes, .and -Kennjr Biker's "shy- 
style, punctuated- by a punchy rendf- 
tion of The Way You Look Tonight' • 
Script also featured ' a cTever satire, 
on the.Richman-MerrlU to-do .where- 
in Benny Baker (the - Paramount 
comic - player.;, who v ha^ graduated 
from comedy, stoogery to being ,.a 
pretty good lunstet- 'on .his?- own) 
officiated, as. the* guy; - wh&' drove the- 
gasoline truck" for-fthe' Richman- 
Merrill Highfc -.Phil, Hainris' - nicely 
orchestrated -musical -support, plus 
the .other- ingredients, < all combined 
into strong; returns. * '■> '■> 1 
-. vMaestro -; Harris and ; comedian 
Benny, sound very much alike, vocal-, 
ly, indicating, that* .-'line.. mentioned 



idea of "making the; btuidihah assume- 
a Dixie " brogue "wasn't carried 
through. This voite . similarity- is ■ 
probably squared off-by the fact that ■ 
both are good personal friends, Con- 
sidering, that- HarrlsLbatbn is much 
more loquacious than .his voice, it's 
notvgoing to be.aTpirttcMariy bother- • 
some parallelism^. : ? ' ■ - 

A good character, perhaps only in- ■ 
tended for casual introduction, but 
who might well hfr retained, is Ken- - 
ny's,dumb ; glfl friend from Catalina 
-'Lena Cata, is -her name— who says :. 
she'd go , to see Fred iMcMurray even- 
if it wasn't bank nlte. . . - 

Behrtjfs "new .'adth'or, replacing 
Harry Conn, is Al Boasberg, film gag 
man;- - - : ' ' Abet, 

BOSEMARIE BRANCATO, HELEN 
CLAUSE 

'30. Mta. -- .. . ... r 

NATIONAL BISCUIT CO. .' 
Friday, 9:30 p.m4 EST 
WJZ, New York \ 

(McCann-Ericicson) 
A promising half • hour's program 
for appearance on the air once 
weekly, sponsored by the National 
Biscuit Co; Billed as Twin Stars 
Show, offers Rosemarie Brancato in 
songs and Helen Claire, with sup- 
porting players, in short sketches. 
Combination is a rather unique one, 
being something, like a two-act 
vaudeville bill with Miss Brancato 
opening the show for the first 15 

Sinutes and the sketch with Miss 
aire closing. ■■ 

Principal drawback, as noted on 
debut of the new ..program Friday 
night (2), Is an overabundance of 
advertising comment which not only . 
employs an announcer for plug pur- 
poses but also uses a Wd known as 
the Uneeda Biscuit boy and even 
works Miss Claire into a biscuit pUff?r . 
when it's about time to ring down : ' 
the curtain. Too much advertising, 
like too much candy, is bound to 
glut the tummy. . ' 

When the Misses Brancato and 
Claire are at their entertaining tasks; 
Twin Stars is okay. For her debut 
<"J Jhjs program Miss Brancato did 
Melody from the Skies' as an opener, 
a. number from a recent picture that 
does not bring out the finer qualities 
of her voice as well as the color- 
atura solo following. 'Roses of 
Picardy' completed her stint, when 
heard, with Miss Claire and a com- 
pany then going on in a sketch. . 

Piece is *n adaptation for air pur- 
poses of a Saturday Evening Post 
story by Mary Hastings Bradley, 
which lends itself happily to the lim- 
itations of the ozone theatre. Well 
acted and directed. Unique -twist for 
a finish. • . • char. ' 

JOE WILLIAMS 
Sports 

ROYAL GELATIN 
Thursday, 8 p.m„ EST. 
WEAF, New York ^ 

(J. Walter Thompson) ' 
Joe Williams, Sports editor of the 
N. Y. World-Telegram stepped to the 
mike on Rudy Vallee's hour for 
Royal Gelatin and clouted a home 
run. . Scrivener had plenty to say, 
knew how he was going to say it 
and put it over Mgrossingly. In- 
deed he may well be drafted for the 
airwaves again. . 

Build-up > to meat of interview was 
via hasty humorous reference to the 
sundry tasks confronting a sports 
scribe. After taking a neat back- 
handed stab at Yale's open pr«M ' 
coop, Williams' got down to factual 
lines with the world lerles. « 



$8 



VARIETY 



A B I 



Wednesday, October 7, 1936 



Biz Not Worthwhile If Mercbandisk^ 
Must Re 





Hartford, Oct. 6. 
'Rather than deviate from- its own 
policies, Station WDRC relinquished 
an oil company account using five 
15-min; spots a week. -Oil company 
had insisted WDRC undertake mer- 
chandising. Station frowns upon this 
practice as disguised form of rate- 
cutting. 

Merchandising is .at its. lowest ebb 
In this city and has "been so for some 
time. While WTIC has done a little 
merchandising in behalf of clients, 
WDRC! is definitely chilly. Only sta- 
tion which professes a willingness to 
'""do a real merchandising job is 
WTHT, a 100 watt;, station which in- 
augurated its first program Sept. 1st. 
Station is an affiliate of the Hartford 
times and, through this media, is able 
to give merchandising service. 

Latter station, however, is meeting 
4. real handicap in its price rate. 
When its first 'rate card was issued, 
this small-powered station had a. 
higher Tate on Sunday, between 12 
and one, than either WTIC, a 50;000 
watter, or ''WDRC, a 5,000 watter. 
When an "advertising agency called 
the station on- this rate, a correction 
- was quickly made and new rate 
cards issued .the following day; but, 
by comparison to other 100-watt sta- 
tions,. WTHT is .believed to rank 
highest in rates in the United States. 

Rate is meeting resistance and, as 
a result, WTHT, in one-month's ex- 
istence has but one commercial in a 
<:ity where the : other two stations 
are sold out practically all day. Ad- 
vertisers are - interested • in purchas- 
ing time, yet, when quoted rates by 
agencies and the station itself, are in- 
clined to turn it. down when, compare 
' Ini rates with either WDRC or 

wnc. 



SPONSORS-ACENCIES 



James Free on Coast, for a' client 
survey. ■ 



Sohwimmer Si Scott agency ' has 
the Hudson dealers account in; Chi- 
cago 



■ Bernle Weinberg east to. look over 
talent crop for Coast shows beings 
produced by the agency; 

William Robson, and not Bess 
Johnson, is the producer' of the 
Scars-Roebuck 'Then— and Now' pro- 
gram on Columbia. , 



Myron Kirk and Raymond Sulli- 
van of Ruthrauff & Ryan, in Los An- 
geles for Joe Penner initialer. Also 
looking around Hollywood for office 
location. 



Claude Morris, formerly in the 
radio script .department, has been 
named assistant production manager 
of the Blackman. Agency. John 
Taylor stays as production chief of 
the agency. 



Arthur Kudncr agency is assem- 
bling data for Buick on a weather 
reports campaign which the account 
figures* to use in addition_to. tiie .spot 
announcements that have been set 
for the week of Oct. Id. 



C3> 



Wax Dog Heror Series 

. Seattle-, Oct 6T 
Ace Sanderlin, tops as dog trainer 
In these parts, is waxing 26 episodes, 
titled 'Invisible Trails/ being dog 
hero stories, true to- life. Ruby Har- 
low' wrote ; continuity- .for this, pro- 
gram, which goes on NBC and indie 
stations -along the .Coast.-. ■ Local re- 
lease over KJR. • .. 

Sponsored by Albers for Dog 
Friskles. ' John Pearson is director 
and Tom Morris* announcer. 



Buddy Cantor, pic interviewer for 
WMCA, New Yorky off to the Coast 
for six weeks. ■'■ 



Swift subsidiary product, Sweet 
Meats; getting some -spot announce-, 
ments set to start late in October. 
Placed through J. Walter Thompson 
agency, Chicago, announcements will 
ride solely south of the Mason-Dixon 
line. 



Armand S. Weill agency, Buffalo, 
turning out a~series of e-.t. announce- 
ments for Remington-Rand- in behalf 
of typewriters and office supplies.. 
Possible that later on other discs- may- 
be cut for other R-R products in 
similar, .dramatized, fashion. Station 
list for present campaign not. set ye\» 



DuPont has bought the »:30'to 9:46 
spot on WAEC, New ■ York, and 
WCAU, Philadelphia, Saturdays for 
a program which will plug Zerone, 
anti-freeze liquid: Show, with Irene 
Beasley and the Jester, will originate 
from the CBC studios. Westward end 
of the CBS link is used at the same 
time by Pet Milk. 



> 



NEW DEALERS 
IN ONE WEEK 




Here's how WBZ-WBZA helped, a mayonnaise arid sand- 
wich spread maker: A free sample offer oh a fifteen min- 
ute daytime program brought several thousand replies from 
housewives telling whether or not their dealers carried 
the sponsor's product. With this information the adver- 
tiser's salesmen opened 900 new outlets in a week— typi- 
cal results of a well-planned campaign over these stations! 

W3Z WBZA 



50,000 WATTS 

NBC Blue Network 

BOSTON, MASS. 



1,000 WATTS 

NBC Blu* Netwerk 

SPRINGFIELD, MASS. 



Completely programmed by NBC 



Rap Shephard 



(Continued from. page' 33) 
out reference to the usual, bogeys of 
program duplication and monopolis- 
tic' -trends. ' 

Ag-.inst New Wording ' 
Cleared-channel group, embracing 
1$' high-powered' stations in 10 states, 
quickly hit tHe proposed rule 
changes advocated by the . regional' 
factidn, demanding the commish 
maintain the principle of reserving 
a 'fixed number of ribbons for exclu- 
sive night'Use even if the total num- 
ber of cleared -channels is reduced. 
Craig registered unqualified objec- 
tions to the idea of substituting the 
words 'high-powered' for 'cleared 
channel* throughout the existing 
regulations." . * . 

Duplication of stations on ex- 
clusive ribbons, will be wasteful and 
injurious to rural listeners, Craig 
averred; declaring the question 
cannot be settled in individual cases 
but should be determined by a flat 
basic policy. Answering theoretical 
arguments in favor of establishment 
of widely-separated stations on ex- 
clusive frequencies, the WSM exec 
warned, that even with directional 
antennas much valuable energy will 
be dissir-ited over the oceans and ho 
substantial benefits gained. 

Reviewing the history of broadcast 
regulation since the 20's, Craig re- 
lated how the cleared-channel prin- 
ciple first evolved and '. traced the 
gradual break-down of the theory. 
He questioned whether holders of 
exclusive franchises have the right to 
'bargain away' the interests of their 
listeners when they permit duplica- 
tion by consent and recalled the 
strong economic and political pres- 
sure -which has been exerted to bring 
about construction of lower-powered 
transmitters on- exclusive ribbons. 

' As the issue became clear-cut, 
Craig pointed to John Shepard as 
one of the most persistent advocates 
of abolition of cleared channels. He 
protested' that his group has \been 
subjected to long and costly hearings, 
as well as kept on the anxious seat 
for months, as a result of Shepard's 
crusade. Cleared-channel people 
have, been harassed repeatedly, . he 
charged, and steps must be taken to 
safeguard investments and counter* 
act political influence. 

Thirty Exclusive Channels 

If the Commish. substitutes the 
words 'high-powered* in its present 
cleared channel rules, every sta- 
tion holding an. exclusive franchise 
will be faced with the job of de- 
fending its life- continuously without 
any- aid. from the rule book, Craig 
contended. Ho pointed out that only 
30- of tho 4.0 cleared channelS.actually 
arc c::?lus:ve ft present and re- 
marked that networks b-wo Rained 
practical control of nearly half this 
number. • 

T^U8l- : r«2 on the power issue. 
C: - ai? d ; ~*}cd b~ck into- th-* early 
days of th* old Federal Radio Cam- 
mission to find support for his argu- 
ment that wattage restrictions should 
bo mad?rpi--;d. Hi rccillcl the cha- 
otic c.-"?dit.'-v*s vhich developed 
when th-5 1912 radio .act was a*ti- 
ennned by the courts and cited en- 
gineering opinion of 1927 to .the ef- 
fect tint th~-e is no need for power 
limitation on. r-v»'n-ive f'"equer»C!"*r.. 

Whan tb~ old F.R.C. boosted the 
power limit from 5 to 50 kw.. Vast 
improvement' H service to rurrl 
^rc?s i — i>U?d. Cvai" dacHred. Thr. 
juico iolt htt f^oon tho or>lv means of 
reaching millions of listeners in 
thinlv-populat-id pai'ts of the coun- 
try, he reminded the Commish. 



B!aEche Young ? s Course 

Indianapolis, Oct. 6. 

Bl-nshe Young c,onductor and 
program director for the- Indianapolis 
Public Schools' regular School 
Sketches programs, last year over 
WFBM— this year WIRE and WFBM 
— takes a ch?ir at Indiana University 
Extension Division, teaching radio 
production. • 

Also at Indiana Extension for the 
semester's regular . night, sessions is 
Edith Evans, fashion copywriter for 
the Wm. H. Block Company, depart- 
ment store, listed to conduct series 
of lectures on radio continuity 
writing. 



AYO, COMM'L MGR. 

Fred W. Ayer has been named 
commercial manager of WSAR, Fall 
River, Mass. He's a brother of 
Hibbard Ayer, station rep, with 
whom he was associated for awhile 
last summer. ■ " 

Indie Fall River outlet goes from 
250 watts to 1,000 end of this month, 
and will erect a new antenna simul- 
taneously. 



Robert- Kllntent, recently mikeman 
for WCHS, Charleston, W. Va., added 
to announcing 1 staff at WCKY, Cin- 
cinnati. Meantime, Louis Aiken, Jr., 
leaves WCKY to spiel for WGR, 
Buffalo. 



J. N. Hlnchey, once commercial 
manager of WCBA, Allentown, has 
been named to the sales staff of 
KYW, Philadelphia. 



Here and There 



Otto Nenbauer resumes his solo 
piano series over WDRC, Hartford, 

Harold Jovlen now writing under 
his right name for the Southwest 
News, Chicago. Drops former radio 
editdr nom de plume of H. J. Houser. 



. Joe Connolly, conductor of WFAB's 
Jersey City Irish Hour, is also the 
radio editor of New, York-'s Hi- 
bernian gazette, The Irish Echo. 



Elliot Stewart, heretofore with Co- 
lumbia Concerts division of Colum- 
bia Artists Bureau, has joined the 
WIBX Utica mike and production 
staff. 

Another announcing addition is 
Lowell Gubbins, previously with 
WSYR, Syracuse. Spieling staff now 
numbers seven. 



Frank Sharp, WFBM Indianapolis 
program director, back at his desk 
officially after a brief vacation spent 
chiefly unofficially at his desk. - 



Harley Hubbard now assistant sales 
manager of KGFW, Kearney (Neb.). 

Mary Nally, contralto, has returned 
on a late-evening WGY, Schenectady 
sustaiher titled 'Dream Time,' with 
ah orchestra led by Edward A. Rice: 
Virginia Murdock, soprano 1 , is a' new- 
comer, on sustaining at station. 

James Wilder handling a new pro- 
gram titled 'Opportunity Hour' over 
WKEU, Griffin,. Ga. 



Morton Lawrence, announcer at 
WCAU, Philly, switching daily 
'Sleepy Hollow Boys'. program. 



Jim Begley, -program director of 
KYW, Philly, recuperating from 
abdominal operation.. 



Bolly Mitchell, 12-year-old song- 
stress, off schedule at WICC, Bridge- 
port, because of illness. 

Vaughn de Xeath, m. c.'ing week- 
ends at Chimney Corners, North" 
Stamford, Conn. 



T«m Lewis, writer and actor, who 
has been WTAM's, Cleveland, pro^ 
Cram director for some months, has 
been granted an. indefinite leave of 
absence. Chester Zohn, night pro- 
gram director, has taken over 
Lewis' duties. 



Under direction of Carol Hall, 
WDVL's (Salt Lake City) Kangaroo 
Club (kids) starts its 13th year this 
week. Club- has total membership of 
15,000. 



George Snell, KDYL announcer, 
turned out his third published novel, 
xioot. Hog, and. Die.' Caxton, Idaho 
firm, publishers. 

Frank Austin latest addition to 
KDYL, Salt Lake, announcing staff. 
Formerly with KTSP, St. Paul. 



H. H. Holshouser, assistant, treas- 
urer and general accountant for 
WBT, Charlotte, back from Canada 
and two weeks of ..vacation' there. 
Mrs. Holshouser went along. • 



Myron Fox, KDYL Salt Lake an- 
nouncer, won annual city newspaper- 
radio employes golf tourney. 



r,:::> Soil's Band at Hotel Utah's 
Empire room aired twice weekly by 
KSL, Salt Lake. Russell Stewart an- 
nouncing. 



^ Mary Nally, contralto, has -returned 
to WGY on a late evening sustainer 
titled 'Dream Time,' with an orches- 
tra led by Edward A. Rice. Takes 
place of 'Gypsy Trail.' which WGY 
fed' to NBC for some time. 



Caldwell Cline, news commentator 
for WSOC, Charlotte, N. C, is vaca- 
tioning in Atlanta. 



Preston Stroupe, vocalist, has been 
added to the Wayside program of 
Harold Brown, over WSOC, Char- 
lotte, N. C. 



WJAY, Cleveland, is all set to 

erect a new transmitter, and antenna 
as soon as the Federal Communica- 
tions Commission gives the word. 



New site "would be out-of-town at 
Seven Hill Village, south of Cleve- 
land. It is -the same site now •being 
used by WHK. 



Margaret ,SiceIoff, former an- 
nouncer and dramatist .at Asheville, 
now secretary to Sales. Manager 
Dewey Long at WBT, Charlotte. .. . 



John N. Hinchley, joins KYW 
(Philly) sales staff, coming, from 
commercial, manager duties at 
WCBA, Allentown., 



Rock TJlmer, formerly .with .WHO, 
Des Moines, now on KSTP, St. Paul, 
announcing staff. 



John M. Sherman, St. Paul dis- 
trict radio and communications in- 
spector for the F.C.C., has resigned 
to- become .technical ^director of 
WTCN, St. Paul-Minneapolis news- 
papers-owned station. Carl W. 
Loeber moved in from Detroit to as* 
sume Sherman's former post. 



Bobby Jelllson, WCCO, Min- 
neapolis, sound effects man, marries 
in October. 



Rath Parks, named WHK*s new 
organist, once played at Palace, 
Cleveland. Starting Oct. 4 she rates 
a. spot over CBS chain in a new 
series titled 'Day Dreams' in which 
she will appear with Lou Rich's 
Orchestra. 



Leroy Flynn, 18-year-old high 
school orator, joins WICC, Bridge- 
port, as announcer. 



Gay Wallace, former announcer 
at WHN, New York, now spokesman 
at W1XBS, Waterbury-New Haven. 



Johnny Niv'1cnd?s. orchestra at 
Hotel ClarU?-?'. Memphis. Broad- 
casts three tinv -. daily over WHBQ. 
VocaUsts include Marie DuPre, Dick 
Rock and the Four Toppers. 



Recently-married Betty Jones, con- 
tinuity writer for WNBR, Memphis, 
has resigned to travel through Ala- 
bama with her husband, Terry Jack- 
son, of the Alabama Power and 
Light Co. 



Raymond Gny and W. S. Duttera, 
NBC engineer experts, visited Cleve- 
land -last week and spoke at Case 
School of Applied Science to radio 
engineers on new developments in 
antenna. 



Adrian James Flantey, former sales 
promotion manager- of World Broad- 
casting, has opened his own offices 
in New York tor sales promotion, 
publicity and artist representation in 
radio. 



Gertrude Ber£ fills guest gap for 
Ben Bernie's American Can broad- 
cast of Oct. 13. Frere Herman Bernie 
negotiated. 



Edna Ran, formerly of Harkins 
agency, takes over Phyllis- Foster 
(home economics etherizer) duties 
for WDAS, Philly, replacing Lee 
Lawrence. 



Lanny Ross gives a benefit con- 
cert ct Tatt Preparatory School, 
Watertown, Conn., Oct. 31. When 
he was a student there he was leader 
of the glee club. 



Mickey Gillette, NBC saxophonist 
and conductor, will leave San Fran- 
cisco for Hollywood shortly. He is 
batoning Jack Meakin's programs 
while the latter is on a month's 
•cave of absence. 



Bca Kenaderet, singing comedienne 
at KFRC, San Francisco, leaving 
after more than four years on the 
station's staff to try her luck in Hol- 
lywood. 



1 



"Th* Ad vcrds/nq rpst Station 
In thv Atfvcriismq Test City ' 

Maximum Coveraqe 

m the Major 
Connecticut Markets 

Basic CB S Station 

Hartford. Conn. 



National Representative ' 
Free, Johris &.. Field, Inc. 
New York — Chicago — Detroit 
San Francisco — Los Angelea 



Wednesday, October 7, 1936 



A D I O 



VARIETY 



3t 




Washington, Oct. 6, 1936. 
gix hew stations received .okays 
from the Federal Communications 
Commission when the Broadcast Di- 
vision held its regular meeting last 
week and numerous applications for 
construction permits lor high fre- 
quency relay broadcast stations were 
granted. Commish nixed one- new 
transmitter plea and threw out one 
application for power jump, but 
granted several transfers of control 
and one frequency change and power 
increase. 

Renewals of regular licenses were 
granted nine transmitters, but 12 
were put on. one month's probation, 
pending action on renewal applica- 
tions, 

■ Northern Broadcasting Company, 
Inc., Wausau, .Wis., received the nod 
on an application for . new station 
to., be operated on 1370 kc with- 100 
watts days, upsetting the • recom- 
mendation pf Examiner P. J. Seward. 
The request of C. G. Hill, George O. 
Walker and. Susan H. Walker— long-, 
time, candidates for a broadcast sta- 
tion for Winston-Salem, N. C— was 
filially- granted, reversing Examiner 
B. L.; Walker. Station will be op- 
erated on . 1250 kc with 250 watts 
days. A' second transmitter was au- 

' thorized for ; North Carolina when 
Jonas Weiland, of Kinston, was told 

i to go ahead with a new -station to 
be operated on 1200 kc with 100 

- watts' nights, 250 watts days, Com? 
pitsh sustaining Examiner Walker. 

Navarro Broadcasting Association, 
Corsicana, Texas, received an okay 

' for a new station to be operated on 
1310 kc with 100 watts days, in line 
with the recommendation of Exam- 
iner G. H. HilL New station for 
Wilton Harvey Pollard, Huntsville, 
Ala., to be operated on 1200 kc with 
100 wattd also was sanctioned, COm- 
jaish upholding Examiner Seward. 

Day juice-jump from 100 to 250 
Witts was denied WPAR, Parkers- 
burg, W« ya., sustaining the recom- 
mendation of Examiner John P. 
BramhalL A new station for Jef- 
ferson Broadcasting Company, Bir- 
mingham, Ala., also was tossed out 

. by., the Broadcast Division. Outfit 
had requested 1200 kc with 100 watts 
night, 250 watts days. . 

Other Denials 
Other denials included WHBB, 



Selma, Ala., , authority to operate un- 
limited time,. beginning Oct. 1, pend- 
ing, action '. on a modification, of 
license requesting same privilege; 
WLEU, Erie, Pa., special authority 
to operate with increased night 
power of 250 watts for a period of 
45, days; WIBW, Topeka, Kan., au- 
thority to operate with power of 5 
kw from 12 midnight to 1 a.m., CST, 
for the month, of October; WSMK, 
Dayton, O., and KQV, Pittsburgh, 
Pa., authority to operate simultane- 
ously from local sunset to midnight 
for 30-day period; WSPA, Spartan- 
burg, S. C., special authority to op- 
erate unlimited time with power of 
500 watts night, 1 kw days, on 1120 
kc frequency; WEST, . Easton, Pa., 
special temporary authority to op- 
erate simultaneously with WKBO, 
Harrfcburg,. Pa„ for 30-day period; 
WKBO. Harrisburg, Pa., same except 
with WEST. 

Special authority to operate with 
5 kw from sunset at KPO, San Fran- 
cisco, to 11 p.m., EST, was given 
WPTF. Raleigh, N. C, until Febru- 
ary 1, 1937. Station, now using 1 
kw experimentally, . for the same 
period, is on the (500 kc frequency, 
with KPO. Continuation of special 
authority to operate on 1100 kc was 
given KWKH, Shreveport, La., 10- 
kilowatter, until Feb. 1. - 

The following, transmitters re- 
ceived breathing spells until Nov. 1, 
pending action on their applications 
for regular license renewals: KFBB, 
Great . Falls, Mont.; KTFI, Twin 
Falls, Idaho; WCAE, Pittsburgh,-Pa.; 
WFAE, Hammond, Ind.; KLPM, 
Minot, N. D.; WHIP, Day ton, O.; 
WHBL. Newark, N. J.; WIBA, Madi 
son, Wis.; KFQD,- Anchorage, 
Alaska; KGFG». Oklahoma,. Okla.; 
WATL, Atlanta, Ga.; . WRDO, Au- 
gusta, .Me.; WNYC, New York City; 
WWL, New Orleans, 'La. Extension 
of special experimental -authority 
w?s granted KTFI, Twin Falls, 
Idaho, on a temporary, basis only, 
from Oct. 1, 1936, to~April 1, 1937. ; 
Referred to Examiners. 

The following applications were 
referred, to examiner's: ' ' 

Arthur Groghan, Minneapolis, 
Minn., hew station to be operated 
on 1310 kc with 100 watts, days only; 
WLB, . Minneapolis, Minn., change 



frequency from 1250 to 760 kc, jump 
power from 1 to 5 kw, change time 
from specified hours to sharing with 
WCAL, Northfield, Minn.; WTCN, 
Minneapolis, Minn., change hours of 
operation . from specified to un- 
limited; KWTN, Watertown, S. Dak., 
increase power from 100 watts to 250 
watts night, 500 watts days, and 
change frequency from 1210 to 1340 
kc; KGDY, Huron, S. Dak., change 
frequency from 1340 to 1210 kc, 
change power from 250 watts days 
to 100 watts nights, 250 watts days; 
Georgia Broadcasting Co., Rossville, 
Ga., new station to be operated on 
1200 kc, with 100 watts; WLMU, 
Middlesboro, Ky., increase day 
power from 100 watts to 250 watts; 
Amarillo Broadcasting Co., Amarillo, 
Tex., new station to be operated oh 
1500 kc with 100 watts days; W. E. 
Whitmo're, Hobbs, N. Mex., new sta- 
tion to be operated on 1500 kc with 
100 watt days. 

Virgil V. Evans, Gastonia, N. C., 
new station to be operated on 1420 
kte with lOO watts, requests call let- 
ters WJBR; Schuylkill Broadcasting 
Company, Pottsville, Pa, new station 
to be operated on 580 kc with 250 
watts days; Northwestern Publishing 
Co., Danville, 111., new station to be 
operated on 1500 kc with 250 watt 
days; Waldo Abbot, Ann' Arbor, 
Mich., new special broadcast station 
to be operated on 1550 kc with 1 
kw; Central States Broadcasting Co., 
Council Bluffs, la., new station to 
be operated on 1500 kc with 100 
watts. 

The following applications were 
received: 

WGY, Schenectady, N. Y., juice- 
jump froni 50 to 500 kw; KGFI, Cor- 
pus Christi, Te::., change frequency 
from 1500 to 1330 kc, increase power 
from 100 watts .nights, 250 watts 
days; to 500 watts unlimited; WBOW, 
Terre Haute, Ind., Change frequency 
from 1310 to 930 kc, power from 100 
watts nights, 250 watts days, to 500 
watts nights, 1 kw . days; KABR, 
'Aberdeen, S. Dak., change frequency 
from 1420 to 1.390 kc, increase power 
from 100 watts to I kw; KFIO, Spo 
kane, Wash., change frequency from 
1120 to 1110 kc, increase power from 
100 to 500 watts; KFJR, Portland, 
Ore., voluntary assignment of . license 
•from Ashley C. Dixon, KFJR, Inc, 
to KALE, Inc. 

John Stewart Bryan .& Douglas 
Freeman, Tennant Bryan, co-part 
ners, Petersburg, Va., new station 
to be operated on 1370 kc with 100 
watts days; World Publishing > Co., 



Pacific Coast Radio Notes 



Hal Wolf is giving football analysis 
on new program 'Sports Review,' 
weekly on Tuesday over KOMO, 
Seattle: 



Harold C. Moan, formerly with 
KFPY, Spokane, KFBB, Great Falls, 
and KGBO, Missoula, is now on 
KOMO-KJR, Seattle staff of an- 
nouncers. Maitland Jordan, formerly 



Tulsa, Okla., new station to be op- 
erated on 940 kc with 5 kw; KPLC, 
Lake Charles, La., increase day 
power from 100 to 250 watts; George 
H. Payne, San Jose, Calif., new sta- 
tion to be operated oh 1010 kc with 
1 kw; WMBO, transfer of control of 
corporation from* George I. Stevens 
to Roy L. Albertson, 150 shares com- 
mon stock; WIBG, Glehside, Pa., in- 
crease power from 100 watts to 5 
kw and change hours of operation 
from daytime to limited, Chicago 
sunset; KTAT, Fort Worth, Tex., 
voluntary assignment of license from 
Raymond E. Buck to Tarrant Broad- 
casting Company; KTSM; El Paso, 
Tex., increase day power from 100 
to 250 watts and request authority 
to carry WDArL El Paso, schedule 
on KTSM transmitter; WJIM, Lans- 
ing, Mich., voluntary assignment of 
license from Capitol City Broadcast- 
ing Co., to Harold F. Gross; WPHR, 
Petersburg, Va., change hours .of 
operation from days to unlimited, 
using 500 watts. 

West Virginia. Newspaper Publish- 
ing 'Co., Clarksburg, W. Va., new 
station to be operated on 630 kc With 
1 kw nights, 5 kw days; WTAQ, 
Green Bay, Wise, Increase day 
power from 1 kw to 5 kw; Fayette 
Broadcasting Corp, Uniontown, ' Pa'., 
new station to be operated on 1420 
kc with 250 watts days; KTHS, Hot 
Springs National Park, Ark., change 
frequency . ftomi 1040 to 1060 kc, 
time from sharing with KRLD, Dal- 
las, Tex., to unlimited; Journal Com- 
pany (Milwaukee Journal), Wau- 
kesha, Wise, new. facsimile broad- 
Cast station to be operated on 620 
kc with 500 watts, midnight to 6 
a.m. (WTMJ, Milwaukee, Wise, 
broadcast transmitter to be used); 
D. L. Thornton, Centralia arid Che 
halis, Wash,, hew station to be op- 
erated on 1500 kc with' 100 watts 
nights,' 250- watts days. 



with KMO, Ta'coma, another addition 
to KOMO-KJR announcers. 



Tubby Graves, frosh football coaefc. 
at U and baseball coach, ditto,' in ne* 
program, over KQMO, Seattle, twic« 
weekly, 'Locker Room Stories in. 
Sport.' 



Jose Maria Reynal rounded up * 
dozen picture names for his 'gpoi 
will' broadcast from Hollywood f* 
South America. '• 



Charles Correll (Andy) piloted hid 
own plane from the Coast to Chi* 
cago. Freeman Gosdeh (Amos,, dt 
al), took no chances and boarded » 
streamline train. 



Hal Styles, KMTR (Hollywood) 
special eventer, looking for ' ••' a 
haunted house, to broadcast from. 



Harry MatzUsh, KFWB (Holly- 
wood) manager, pulled a fastie by 
inking Rob Wagner to a contract 
while an agency exec ' was stalling 
for time. 



Robert TapUngrer winged back t* 
his N. Y. office after .looking in o* 
the . Nelson Eddy inaugural for 
Vicks. ' 



Dave Broekman, KHJ (Los Ange-. 
les) musical director, batoning an 
ofk for first time on Coast NBC 
network. • J 



Carl Nlsscn, former commercial 
manager of KNX (Hollywood), has 
bought into the R. H.-Albers agency. 



Hngo Klrchofer leading - KFWB 
(Hollywood) community sing "from 
Exposition Park. 



. Lloyd Yoder, NBC press chief, for 
the Coast, will b$ head linesman 
at three conference games in L.A. 
this year, "!' 

Bin* Crosby due baok - on the 
Kraft broadcast Oct, 15" after sev- 
eral weeks resting up in Hawaii, v 



Thomaa. Frcebalrn Smith named 
head announcer ' of KNX (Holly* 
wood). . Dan Prindle joined Hee 
Chevigny's continuity staff. 



■A 



4 

i 



of any broad- 



serv ice to — - listeners ^ecog- 

n«e wi-w . 
W«» e0tal - • ets by the tes^s of *e« 

^ CA mpa.g» cft£e . 
t0 its tremeodotts 



40 



VARIETY 



RAD I 



Wednesday, October 7, 1936 



Reallocation Hearing On 



(Continued from page 35) 

toons, plus legal documents covering 
in detail endless divisions and sub- 
divisions of problems all suggest 
plenty of engineering and legal ex- 
pense. At least 40 lawyers and 
dozens of engineers are present. 
In the Background 

Hovering in the background of the 
present hearings and optimistically 
hoping for a wholesale boosting of 
power within all classifications, are 
the radio equipment manufacturers. 
Regardless of the merits of the sev- 
eral questions under dispute, it looks 
like the equipment boys are the only 
sure winners in the whole mess. 

National Association of Broadcast- 
ers is neutral. Although having pre-' 
pared a complete presentation, the 
trade association will not testify or 
participate. It's position is a logical 
reflection of the dissensions and mu- 
tual conflicts of interest among the 
memberships. 

Warning that higher power limi- 
tations will burden' the industry with 
$10,000,000 capital outlay and heavy 
additional operating costs, as well 
as force abandonment of small sta- 
tions and deprive , certain areas of 
present service, was given the' Fed- 
eral Communications Commission 
today (Tuesday), by William S. 
Paley, president of the Columbia 
Broadcasting System. 

Although declaring Columbia will 
lake full advantage of any changes 
in existing policies and regulations, 
Paley registered strong opposition 
to the idea of creating a group of 
500 kilowatt transmitters, and upping 



DICK 




AND HIS ORCHESTRA 
Hotel Lincoln, New York City 
CBS COAST TO COAST NETWORK 

. •■ 

D ir.; M C A . 
Ver. Mgt., HERMAN B ERNIE 
1619 B'w.y, N. V. C. 



S. K. KUSHNER 
Presents 



Don 

I Bestor 




wattage top for regionals at pres- 
ent time. He advised caution in 
upping present broadcast structure 
by revising regulations which might 
force a new pattern of network 
coverage. With carefully, worded 
recommendation in favor of dupli- 
cation on cleared channels, the 
CBS prez declared that if these 
three moves 'occur the result will 
be use of fewer stations of. greater 
powers by principal sponsors, fol- 
lowed by stronger signal service in 
rural areas, abandonment by chains 
of low-powered transmitters in pri- 
mary service, areas of the proposed 
'titians, and Inevitable curtailment 
of service in medium-sized cities. 
The Prabable Borden 

'Our careful estimates of the cost 
of 500 • kilowatt stations indicate* 
probable burden of over $10,000,0:0 
of capital invested by. the broad- 
casters with an additional operating" 
cost of between $3,000,000 and 
$4,000,000 a year,' Paley said. The 
Columbia Broadcasting . System 
stands ready to accept its share of 
the load if super power is admitted 
as... a full fledged member of the 
broadcast family. I do not believe 
any of us knows about the imme- 
diate effects and the subsequent 
effects of super power,, both in it- 
self and in relation to the progress 
and welfare of radio broadcasting 
and radio listening in American life. 
Many of the' doubts. I have raised 
have been expressly doubts. Many 
of them have been questions, not 
answers. , We need those answers. I. 
believe the Commission needs those 
answers before altering the basic 
structure of broadcasting. I believe 
that a dozen studies of the most 
exhaustive sort are hi order. 

•Knowing the economics of broad- 
casting as well as we do,' - Paley 
continued, ■ 'I feel justified in saying 
that if the burden of cost of super 
power is thrown upon the industry 
almost at the same time it is faced 
with costly developmental work in 
new fields, one or the other is very 
apt to suffer.' -Pointing out that 
economic considerations, as well as 
engineering, will restrict use of 
super power; Paley- estimated the 
country should not have more than 
23 transmitters of 500 kilowatts. 
Even with such limitations, webs 
will have to abandon stations with- 
in the service area of each new 
behemoth because sponsors would 
refuse to pay for wasteful duplica- 
tion. Smaller stations would fail to 
receive strong schedule of spon- 
sored web programs, he warned, 
and would fight a losing battle. 'So 
far as we can estimate its effect on 
Columbia as a network, it is our 
reasoned conclusion that super 
power would result in the substitu- 
tion by advertisers of one super 
power station for several of the 
smaller stations now on the network 
in the area encircling any new 
super . power station. The net re- 
sult should increase our service to 
remote areas at night r at the pos 
sible expense of providing parts of 
certain cities with a remote signal 
wholly satisfactory for reception/ 
but of lower level than the present 
signal of the network stations now 
within those cities,' Paley said. 

Duplication of use on exclusive 
ribbons offers 'real improvement in 
public service,' Paley advised. Clear 
channels already impaired by pres- 
ence of two sharing transmitters 
would be used more efficiently by 
widely separated stations, he re- 
marked, although the eventual re- 
sult might.be abandonment by webs 
of regional and local stations lo- 
cated within enlarged primary ser- 
vice area of the 50 kilowatters. Eco- 
nomic consequences of super power 
are not clear, Paley said, but sev- 
eral potential disadvantages threaten 



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to counteract anticipated benefits. 
He suggested that'greafer theoretical 
sales revenue must carry the load 
of a $500,000 investment and $150,000 
increase in operating costs without 
allowing profit on the added outlay, 
rate card boosts will make broad- 
casting a prohibitive medium for 
local advertisers, and creation of 20 
or 25 behemoths: may nullify the ad- 
vantage of each without equalizing 
the heavy cash expenditure, Paley 
opined. 

. Worst Victims 

Regional and non-web stations will 
be the worst victims of 500 kw 
policy, Paley cautioned. While some, 
regionals benefit, the majority will 
be handicapped by greater competi- 
tion and concentration of advertis- 
ing, he said, and loss of network af- 
filiation will -be inevitable. Locals 
will find the problem oT providing 
both revenues and programs still 
harder, while coverage probably will 
be reduced because of increased in- 
terference. Listeners would not en- 
joy substantial benefits- from 500 kw 
stations, Paley predicted. Although 
commish studies show clear-channel 
transmitters are favorites with rural 
audiences, only in half of i one per- 
cent of radio-equipped homes would' 
big power boosts result in appreci- 
able improvement in reception, he 
said, adding that better-, reception 
can be obtained already by replace- 
ment of obsolete sets with modern 
equipment. 

Although opposed to upset at 
present, CBS is ready to climb on 
the super power bandwagon, Paley 
announced. If commish ' sanctions 
500 kw, web will seek 'its full quota,' 
with chain-owned transmitters in 
New York, Chicago, Charlotte, Min- 
neapolis, St. Louis, and Los Angeles 
joining the scramble. Already three 
affiliates, WJB, , WHAS and KSL, 
have asked for 'juice jojts, he re- 
called, and others may be expected 
to complicate the race. 'If super 
power is .to come, -we will build and. 
operate 500 kw stations wherever 
the commission will sanction them 
at strategic points on the Columbia 
network,' Paley said, firing a part- 
ing shot and inviting rivals to launch 
a 'wattage war.' 

_ C.C.'s Ask Boost 
Not content with seeking 500 kw 
authorization, Cleared Channel 
Broadcasters asked the P.C.C. to 
boost power minimum on exclusive 
ribbons to 50 kw and eliminate all 
wattage maximums. 

Looking ahead to the time when 
500 kw may not satisfy more 
ambitious broadcasters, Edwin Craig 
of WSM, Nashyille, said that use of 
less than 50 kw by cleared channel 
operators is 'inefficient and waste- 
ful,' while maximum power limita 
tion will 'stifle development.' He is 
firmly opposed, however, to boost- 
ing the minimum beyond 50 kw, 
fearing economic difficulties. 

There are no valid reasons for 
putting a roof on cleared channel 
power, Craig said, warning such ac- 
tion will. check progress and put the 
U. S. farther behind' in technical ad- 
vancement. Shrugging off objections 
about possible blanketing or ad- 
jacent-frequency interference, the 
group- spokesman pointed out that 
Mexico has jumped to 100 and 150 
kw, drowning out various American 
stations, while Europe has 23 trans- 
mitters using more than 50 kw. 

The Economic Side 
'The economic side of the ques- 
tion must be frankly faced. Cities in 
which clear channel stations are lo- 
cated and the surrounding rural 
areas which rely on those stations 
for service differ vastly in their abil- 
ity to support the necessary outlay,' 
said Craig. 

While it would be unfair to com- 
mand all exclusive stations to jump 
to 500 kw., any limitation of power 
boosts would be equally unwise and 
unfair, Craig averred. Apprehension 
about tremendous increases in inter 
ference is unfounded, he claimed, 
particularly if regional station watt- 
age is upped at the same time to pre- 
serve present ratios. 

'The advance of civilization,' -said 
Craig, 'would have been at ah im- 
measurably' slower pace if men had 
not been free to hazard their for- 
tunes on the uncertain and the un- 
foreseeable. Removal, of the maxi- 
mum power limitation does not mean 
that you wDl permit any and all ( 
clear channel licensees to increase' 
the power of their stations to 500 
kw. Should an air transport company 
be forbidden to place a new and im- 
oroved model of plane in use because 
it may attract passengers from a com- 
peting line? Where would civiliza- 
tion be if we had followed that phi- 
losophy?' 

Encouraging Competlsh 
Competition between holders of 
exclusive franchises might be en- 
couraged if the Commish is not will- 
ing to lift all wattage restrictions. 
Craig suggested it might be desir- 
able, if cautious procedure is be- 



lieved necessary to limit the number 
of 500 kw. assignments, giving early 
comers an advantage and simulta* 
neously' penalizing broadcasters re- 
luctant to experiment.. 

Abolition of limited-tune station 
classification, or refusal to license 
asy new transmitters using spare 
night hours, on cleared frequencies, 
was urged by holders Of exclusive 
franchises. Pointing out that limited 
transmitters can function after sun- 
set only when dominant stations are 
silent, Craig asked the F.C.C. to ac- 
knowledge actual situation which 
finds cleared channel transmitters 
working around the clock. At pres- 
ent virtually no holders of exclusive 
assignments fail to operate.- until 



after midnight and during early 
morning hours, he said. As result* 
the limited-time .boys actually can 
operate only during daylight. 

Commish should refuse to grant, 
further permits for construction of 
limited-tune stations, or should erase 
the category, terming them 'daytime 
stations,' Craig said.' 

It seems to us that there is no- 
longer any occasion for this classifi- 
cation and that its continuance sim- 
ply means eventual hardship for the 
licensee of the limited-time station 
who may have built up an audience 
and a business in part of the unused 
hours when the time comes for the 
clear channel station to reclaim those 
hours,' Craig 'explained. It also 
means embarrassment to the clear 
channel licensee and probably litiga- 
tion.' 

Powel Crosley, Jr., here for a 
speech, is more concerned' about 
taking an examination to become a 
licensed third class radio operator 
on his own yacht. . 

Lobx Yet to Speak 
Lenox Lohr "will arrive tomorrow 
(Wednesday) and may follow. Wil 
Hani S. Paley as speaker before the 
P.C.C. ^ 

Slides and motion pictures are be 
ing used to illustrate various 
technical phases of testimony. Joe 
Chambers, technician for- clear 
channel group, used stereoptican 
Tuesday -afternoon, and WLW, Cln 
cinnati, scheduled Wednesday to sub 
mit evidence of its experience as the 
only super-watter in actual opera- 
tion, will exhibit films with sound 
effects demonstrating actual listen- 
ing conditions on home receiver as 
between 50,000 and 500,000 power. 

Abandonment of the broadcasting 
industry's outstanding synchroniza- 
tion experiment and permanent re- 
shuffling of four stations using 1040 
and 1060 channels, are reported in 
prospect Tuesday (6). After four 
years of research, WBAL, Hearst's 
Baltimore outlet, has asked permit 
from F. C. C. to cease its mountain 
goat, act and reside permanently on 
the 1060 frequency, which it 
theoretically shares with WTIC, 
Hartford. Shake-up will make 
permanent present maze of tempo- 
rary shifts which has been existing 
for several years and -will leave 760 
channel open for exclusive night- 
time use by WJZ . N ew York. At 
nresent-WTIC and WBAL, in theory, 
iointly occupy 1060, while KTHS. 
Hot- Springs, and KRLD, Dallas, 
share 1040. 

During prolonged experiments, 
WTIC has been operating unlimited 
time on 1040 in company with KRLD, 
while WBAL days has been operat- 
ing simultaneously with KTHS on 
!0G0._ Nights KTHS .has been return- 
ing to 1040. while WBAL has been 
moving to the WJZ channel. Balti- 
more transmitter contemplates in- 
stallation of- directional antenna for 
wnht use to reduce interference with 
WTIC on the adiacent frequency and 
to permit KTHS to operate simul- 
taneously on the 1060 stripe both day 
and.riight. 



Among Those Present 



(Continued from page 83) 

Hoyt 'WooUn, WBEC, Memphis, 
Harry Slavic*. WMC, Memphis. 
R. T» Rollo. WBNX. New York. 
H. li, Wilson, WBNX. New York. 
W. J. Scrlpps, WWJ, Detroit 
K, M. Fierce, WGAR. Cleveland. 
Walter Paipm, W TMJ. Milwaukee. 
Herb Petty. WHN, New Torfc 
Melvta Hftdretb. WORL, Boston. 
Jack DeWltt. WSM. Nashville. 
Gene O'Fhlfcm, KVOD. Denver. 
John Shepard, Srd. Yankee network. 
P, X Heanessy, NBC. 
S. Howard Evans, Nat'l -Radio Committee. 
'A. 3. Crane, University ot Wyoming. . 
H. B. McCarty, Educational Broadcasters 
Assn. . 

- Prof. Edw. Bennett, University 61 Wis* 
consln. 

Edward A. Allen, WLVA, I,7n<*barg, Va, 
Ralph R, BrontoD, KJBS, San Francisco. 
John Elmer, WCBM, Baltimore. 
Wright Gedge, WMBC, Detroit. 
John H. omin.'Jr. t WOW. Omaha. 
Alfred J. McCosker. "WOR, Newark. 
John F. Patt, WGAR, Cleveland. 
T. W, Symoni. Jr., KFPY. Spokane. 
W. O. Pane, WALA, Mobile. 
Garland Powell, WRCF, Gainesville. 
C. y. Price, KPH. Wichita, 
K. W. Pyle. KFBI, Abilene. 
J. C. Rapp. KMA. Shenandoah. 
William West, WTHV, East St. Louis, 
Eddney Ridge. WRIG Greensboro. 
R. J. Rockwell, • WTVW, Cincinnati. 

- George W. Smith. WWVA, Wheeling. 
. J. W. Rnnyan, KRLD, Dallas. 

J. H. Ryan, WSPP . Toledo. 
John Sherman, WTCN. Minneapolis, 
W. H. SumervlUe. WOST, Atlanta. 
U W. Stlnson. KYOO. Tulsa. 
S. C. Vlnsonbaler, KIR A, Little Bock, 
James A. Wagn er. "W BBY, Green Bay. 
Hasten Woolley, WW J, Detroit. 
Sydney Warner. WlXBS, Watorbury. 
8. R. Winch, KOJN. Portland. 
Jotra Aitenhead, WADC. Akron. 
A. li. Ashby. NBC - 
WllUam S. Paler. CBS. 
Isaac Brlmberg, WIN YC. New York. . 
J. F. Burke, KFVD. Los Angeles. 
Zieo Coulawn, WHAS, Louisville. 
Jobn Cummlpge , WC AM, Camden. 
L. S. Mitchell, WDAE, Tampa. 
Leonard- Laurence, WFMD, Frederick, 
Md\ 

Ralph MateaOn, TVHDH, Boston. 
Clair McCullougb, Mason Dixie network, 
Harold Meyer WSTJN. St. ' Petersburg. 
Richard 0;Dea, WNEW. New York city, 
Eugene Pack. KSL, Salt. Lake City. 



Iowas' Net's Shaw for 
DesM. Grocers' Assn. 

Des Moines, Oct. 6. 

Iowa network, for the fourth suc- 
cessive year, is producing .a 'food 
show' for the Des ' Moines Retail 
Grocers' Association. Nelson Shawn, 
of NBC here, is booking the acts. 

Among those, set are Jackie Heller, 
Pat Kennedy, Morin Sisters, Vaga- 
bonds and Mrs. Pennyfeather. Local 
talent includes Lansing Benet, the 
Day Dreamer, and the Modern Choir. 
Orchestra is that of Orville Foster, 
IBS musical director. 



Wimbrow Goes WXYZ 

Detroit, Oct. 6. 
Dale Wimbrow, producer of sev- 
eral network shows, joins WXYZ 
staff. 

Wimbrow will produce commercial 
programs. Composer and actor, 
Wimbrow has been producing ether 
shows for 14 years. 



SAM 
HEARN 

"HORACE NIMBLE". 

MAXWELL HOUSE 
SHOW BOAT 

WEAF, Thur*., 9-10 P.M. EST 
Mitpagcme at: LEO M ORRISON 

Radio Bep.t FBED~B. NORMAN 



GRACIE 
BARRIE 

OPENING IN OCTOBER 

in the New Broadway Production 

"THE SHOW IS ON" 

Ercl. Mgt. HERMAN BERNIE, 
Urottdwny, New fork 



>♦»♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦»♦♦♦♦♦»»♦♦♦»< 



BASIL 
FOMEEN 



And His Internationals t 
NOW 

\Hotel Pierre \ 

NEW YORK 

X Mgt.: Paul C. Wimbish i 

£ 1619 Broadway, New York f 
»♦»♦♦♦♦»♦»♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦< 



DICK 
BALLOU 

And His Orchestra 

I Knox Gelatine J 

X 

CBS— Tues-Thura., 
11:15-11:30 A.M. — EST 

t Mgt.: Paul C. Wimbish t 

\' t 1619 Broadway, New York J. 
♦»♦♦♦♦♦♦»♦♦♦»♦♦♦»♦♦•♦»»» 



Dave Carter coming out from New 
York to handle L.A. publicity for 
Columbia* 



»♦»♦♦♦♦♦♦♦»♦♦♦»♦♦♦♦♦♦»♦■» 

:: Charley Boulanget*| 

And Hia Orchestra 
Coffee Dana — New York 
CBS 

Mgt.: PAUL C. WIMBISH T 
IBIS BROADWAY, NEW YORK X 

♦ ♦♦♦♦«♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ 1 1 ♦♦♦ M M ♦ ♦ 



f 
/ 



I Wednesday, October 7, 1936 



RADIO 



VARIETY 



41 



Inside Stuff-Radio 



Identity of each station participating in program slated for rebroadcast- 
' jng must hi submitted to the Federal Communications Commission in 
accordance with revised version of rule book approved last week. 

■Rewriting rules 177 and 177.1 but without making any major changes, 
commish stipulated that henceforth the licensee of any regular or inter- 
national transmitter must notify the commish of the call letters of each 
sthtlon rebfoadcast, in addition to obtaining the express consent of each 
originating, transmitter. 

Only other significant alteration deleted paragraph which prohibited 
V, S. stations from airing the programs of foreign stations without ob- 
taining F, C C. approval. This clause is omitted from the new version of 
•rule 177. 

"^—^IBC last week straightened out the feud between the Earle Anthony 
stations, KFI and KECA, Los Angeles, and the Democratic National. Com- 
mittee, with the result that the former outlet carried President Roose- 
velt's speech from Pittsburgh. Network had its political contacteers busy 
ever since -the committee, in reprisal for what happened three weeks previ- 
ous, ordered the Anthony outlets eliminated from all Democratic campaign 
talks. 

Jn inquiring why KFI refused to carry the President's fireside talk of 
three weeks ago NBC found out that the station had acted on the advice of 
an attorney. 



'Municipal Court Justice Nathan Sweedler of Brooklyn last week filed 
the complaint of his suit on' the 'Good Will Program.' Asking $250,000 in 
damages; the judge claims that the title is being used without authoriza- 
tion from him. 

. >Among those named as defendants are Chase & Sanborn Coffee, J. Wal- 
ter Thompson, WMCA, New York, Mutual, NBC, WOR, Newark, Mac- 
fadden Publications and A. L. Alexander. Justice Sweedler avers that 
prior, to September, 1930, he .conducted a 'Good Will Court' idea in Brook- 
lyn, and what he objects to is the commercialization of this community 
service. 



. 'Reopening of cases involving sale of five Texas and Oklahoma stations 
to, William Randolph Hearst and others was blocked when majority, of. 
broadcast division members of Federal Communications Commission stood 
pat on decision, to approve the transfers without public hearing. 

With contracts in the case still withheld from public inspection, two 
members declined to be swayed by . protests of third commissioner who 
argued that such an important transaction ought not be rubber-stamped 
Until the F. C. C has the benefit of all information about valuations, pur- 
chase prices, identity of individuals concerned, and plans for future 
operations.- • 



localities for a daily five-minute newscast and WFBR gets a quarter page 
in each issue of the papers. 

Station plugs each paper aside from crediting each as news source. 
WFBR idea, is to strengthen hold on listening public living in the rural 
communities by creating good will of the hinterlanders in offering 'em the 
direct attention radio has seldom given the crossroads and hamlets. News- 
casts contain just the sort of chatter, stuffed with personalities and their 
small doings, that county weeklies carry in their columns. 



Films, once a baby art, which has outgrown its infancy, has already seen 
former kid players "maturing into mature prominence. But radio is still 
too young to have any traditions. However, 'Little' Mary Small is. drop- 
ping the diminutive now that she's attending a fashionable prep school, 
Wharton's, in N. Y., and is in her 15th year, thus making her the first of 
the mike kidlets to decide and grow up for professional as well as private 
purposes. 



Another sponsor bit the dust last week as Federal Trade Commish share- 
shooters brought down. Mills Sales Co., New York, merchandising various 
toilet articles. , . 

Commish ordered Morris Gottsgen and David Jacoby, operators of the 
firm, to quit broadcasting misrepresentations about the price and value 
of their products. 



Grant-in-aid fellowship has been awarded Arthur S. Garbett, educa- 
tional director of the NBC w.estern division, by the Humanities Division of 
the Rockefeller Foundation to enable him .to protect his new simplified 
system of teaching musical composition to children and adults. His method 
is already being tried experimentally in both the Oakland and San Fran- 
cisco public schools. 




Reported in Chicago that John Clark is negotiating with Robert Barrett, 
radio buyer for Blackett-Sample-Hummert, to join .the Trans- American 
firm. Understood that Barrett is wanted to handle station relations for 
Trans-American system. 

Barrett refused to affirm this report and denied he was even considering 
leaving the B-S-H firm. 



Robert Orr, Lennan & Mitchell v»p., says that Burt McMurtrie remains 
as head of the agency's radio department and that Carlos DeAngelo has 
come in as a member of the production staff.' McMurtrie has been with 
Paul Whiteman in Fort Worth, producing the Sunday night show for 
Woodbury. 



& ■ 



State Senator James A. Noe of Monroe, La., says he Is ready to put up 
$18,000 for. construction of a new radio station in his city. Dr. ~S. P. Cer« 
nlglia,. Monroe dentist, has appealed for a construction permit to build a 
J00-wat£ 1,500-kUocycle station, daytime operation only." 

Noe, former lieutenant-governor, who served as Governor of Louisiana 
for several months following the death of O. K. Allen, said he would take 
a mortgage on the station as security for backing Dr. Cerniglla, but that 
he would have 'absolutely no control whatever' over the operation. 



. WFBR, Baltimore, has made a reciprocal tie-up with county weekly 
newspapers of four outlying towns, Westminster, Cambridge, Havre de 
Grace and CenterviUe, all in Md., by which sheets furnish news items from 



. Chief reason for recent powwow in Philadelphia of Atlantic Refihing's 
football spielers was to inspect sponsor's refineries rather than get broad- 
casting pointers according to N. W. Ayer. Figured if the boys did a look- 
see of gas production, they'd put more 'sincerity' into commercials. Trans- 
portation both ways and all expenses for two days. 



WW J, Detroit, has been scoring some nifty on-the-scene broadcasts with 
its mobile unit. 

With Bill Mishler handling, airings have been made in the past week 
from a train wreck in Ann Arbor, a big explosion in Flint and special 
broadcast from home of kidnaped Buddy Browe. 



Squawks from KYA when it was discovered that the station had not 
been signed for any of the Associated Oil Company's play-by-play reports 
of Saturday grid tussles in the San Francisco bay area are believed to be 
responsible for the shift of half the games previously assigned to KSFO 
to the Hearst transmitter. 



Exclusive broadcast of annual Philadelphia food fair at Commercial 
Museum has been grabbed again by WFDj. Station will build -studio at 
fair, also repeating short wave etherings from various booths and p.a.'s of 
headliners from air shows sponsored by food firms. 



NBC NEW PROGRAMS 

Modern Magazines: 'Modern Ro- 
mances' dramas, Wednesdays, 2 to 
2:30 p.m., starting Oct 7; for 13 
weeks. Via WJZ, WBZ-A, KDKA, 
WTAM, WMAQ. 

Household Finance: 'Sherlock 
Holmes, Thursdays, 11:15 to .11:45 
p.m., starting. Oct 1; for 52 weeks. 
Via WEAF, KYW, WLW, WMAQ. 

NBC RENEWALS 

American Can: 'Ben Bernie and 
All the Lads,' starting Oct. 27; for 13 
weeks. Basic Blue, WEBR, WLW, 
SE, SC, SW, NW, KTAR, KFSD (ML 
Red and Basic Pacific Red through 
Dec. 29 only). ' (ML Blue and Basic 
Pacific Blue starts Jan. 1; 1937.) 

CBS NEW PROGRAMS 

National Ice Advertising: 'Home- 
maker's Exchange,' Tuesdays and 
Thursdays, 11:45 to noon, starting 
Oct 27; for 26 weeks. Via 38 stations 
in Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Louis- 
ville, New York, Omaha-Lincoln, 
Philadelphia, . Pittsburgh, St Louis, 
Syracuse, Washington, Atlanta, Bir- 
mingham, Charlotte', Dallas, Denver, 
Ft Wayne, Knoxville, Minneapolis, 
New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Salt 
Lake City, San Antonio, Savannah, 
Shreveport Topeka, and Pacific 
Coast. ■ 

Pcnliac: 'News Through a 
Woman's Eyes' with Kathryn Cra- 
vens, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fri- 
days, 2 to 2:15 p. m., starting Oct 
12. Via 57 stations with rebroadcast 
to the west. 

Note: New programs for more than 
13 weeks are generally cancellable in 
cycles of 1$ ■weeks on 30 days? notice. 



KVOD's Newspaper . Tie-Up 
Denver, Oct. 6. 

KVOD has signed for United Press 
service, and is broadcasting news 
six times daily and three times' 
Sundays. 

Station has also made a tieup with 
the Denver News whereby, the News 
prints KVOD programs; and the 
News takes a 15-minute period six 
nights a week direct from the paper's 
editorial rooms. 



How's This For a Batting Average? 

TWO OUT OF THE THREE SELECTED 
TO BROADCAST THE WORLD 
SERIES OVER THE COLUMBIA 
BROADCASTING SYSTEM ARE FROM 

WCAU 

5 0,000 WATTS 
PHILADELPHIA 



42 



VARIETY 



ABiQ 



Wednesday, October 7, 1936 



RADIO SHOWMANSHIP 

Stunts, Novelties, Tie-Ups 



Outstanding Stunts: 



CUPID'S COURT 
KRNT, DES MOINES 



'Cupid's Court' . 

Des Moines.' 

Same day idea was developed by 
Dave Nowinsoh and Ranny Daly of 
the Iowa network's program depart- 
ment, the 'Cupid's Court* program 
was sold to Maher's Seven-Up to 
plug the beverage in a Sunday 30- 
inipute ride over KANT and WMT. 

Show brings three engaged couples 
to the mike, ' With . Daly acting as 
Judge and Bill Spargrove. as prose- 
cuting attorney. Typical 1 prosecutor's 
questions are: How did you meet? 
Can you cook? • Do you know each 
other's faults7 Sponsor's product. is 
opened and served to members of 
court during 'recess'.* As prosecutor 
rests his case, Judge finds couples 
guilty' of love in first degree and 
sentences them to lifetime of happy 
marriage. . 

Listeners sending In three best 
questions weekly win case -,of ' spon- 
sor's product. Each couple on show 
gets a household gift. 



toll Ends— Alabama Celebrates 

.Birmingham, Ala: 
Nine Alabama stations joined to- 
gether in the largest hookup in the 
history of the state. Handled the 
ceremonies involved in freeing 15 
toll bridges in various sections of the 
state. Stations picking up the broad- 



ON. 



I 



METRO- 
POLITAN 
BOSTON 

This W««k 
OCT. 2 M 



:. ait hw»m i imam ; 



i.THrj 20TH;;WEgtfe - 

BENNY 




Every Sunday Night, - 

V a rm., jest; ' 

r. FoP .• 

FEEN-A-MINT 

MUTUAL BROADCASTING SYSTEM. 



E 
D 
D 
I 

E 




casts from Montgomery and the 
bridge across the Coosa river be- 
tween Birmingham and Atlanta, Sta- 
tion* WBRC, WAPI, WSGN, Bir- 
mingham; WALA, Mobile; WSFA, 
Montgomery: WHBB, Selma; WJBY, 
Gadsden; WAGF, Dothan; . and 
WMSD, Sheffield, participated. 

Showmanship Fiasco 

■Kansas City. 
WHB moved its man-on-the-street 
broadcast to the Muny Aud Monday 
(28), where fall festival is in full 
sway. Station's line is at 14th street 
entrance. Festival entrance is on 13th 
street. With, several thousand people 
in the building, the\two WHB an- 
nouncers spent their 15 minutes of 
air time interviewing (1) a doorman, 
(2) a cop, (3), each other. 




Main Street Straw Poll . 

Lansing, Mich. 
WJIM is making a, combo out. of 
its inquiring mike' turn and a po- 
litical poll. Using a shortwave trans- 
mitter, station sets up a mike at Vari- 
ous places in the city and lets the 
public discourse on its preferences 
among office seekers. 

WMC 'Makes it an Occasion ' 

Memphis. 
WMC . has started using its new 
transmitting, equipment consisting of 
a 611 ft. vertical, half-wave antenna 
and a hew transmitter house. An- 
tenna is of single-tower type, all 
steel, and was set Up with the proph- 
ecy that it would double coverage. . 

Dedication of the works was ..ac- 
companied by fanfare -from various 
bigwigs, and a special section in the 
Commercial Appeal which owns 
WMC. . 



Israel's in spots, but in other places 
he got off on a wild tangent. Maybe 
he- intended humor. If so, it didn't 
click. ■ When a player ran over the 
goal he was described as going into 
a 'land paved with gold.' His dub- 
bing of Alabama, team as 'red ele- 
phants' and 'red soldiers* seemed to 
i ndicate a lack of knowledge of just 
what was happening on the field. 
On the other hand; it might have 
stuck a little more color into the 
stanza. 

Sam Benton handled the commer- 
cials, which were far shorter and 
snappier than the Zenith competish 
on WBRC; 

Munday can show some improv- 
ing. That southern drawl, needs 
Yankeefying, for one thing. It may 
have made Munday in the north, but 
down here it's certainly no novelty. 
More pep also would be useful on 
the whole. Brown. 



I 



Pepsodent's $31,000 Give.' 

Chicago. . 

Pepsodent will offer prizes total- 
ing $34,000 in a contest -on the 'Amos 
V Andy* program to name Amos 
and Ruby's 'baby.' The contest starts 
Oct. 20 and ends Nov. 15. 

.Contest entrants will be able to 
utilize box tops from- any Pepsodent 
product,; marking first tinje. company 
has focused all of its products in a 
contest." Of the total of 2,832 prizes, 
$30,000 will be in U. S. Government 
Savings Bonds and the rest in cash 
First prize will be. .$5,000, second 
$1,600, others in smaller sized bonds. 
During week of Oct. 25' company 
will use 101 newspapers in 61 key 
cities in ad campaign on. contest. 

WTAM's Safety Dr. lye 

. Cleveland, 
WTAM sold Spang Baking Co, an 
additional Saturday series, of pro 
grams to be known as 'Spang Safety 
Club.' * Tommy Briggs, duo-voiced 
actor -who does . a patter act with 
•Betty,' mythical child, for this spon 
sor, 'will be-on the new series. 
'. Plan is to hook up with. Capt, 
Arthur Roth Of the Cleveland police 
force in a safety drive for school 
children. Roth will give a gold 
medal- weekly.^ to child- he- selects- as 
town hero-or heroine. *. » 



Sports Reports 



(Continued from page 36) 



CINCINNATI vs. BUTLER 
With Olin Davis, Harry ' Har tman . 
MICHAEL DBOLD, INC. 
Saturday night 
WCPO, Cincinnati . 

• (Fred Ziv) 
Olin Davis, miker of the. U.C. 
home battles this year, is superin- 
tendent of public schools in Dayton, 
Ky., opposite Cihcy. With a tone and 
pace reminding of Tony Wons, the 
Davis ..delivery, is unusual for. foot- 
ball blasting. At no time does he 
.steam up. It's just a peaceful ses- 
sion with the audience. 

While this type of description 
might spare the listener many a 
headache, it does have the fault of 
boring at times. Davis, without vari- 
ation,' refers to 'the ball' and 'in the 
ball game.' Never any grid lingo or 
slang. Game caught was 'a 12-12 tie, 
with the home club evening the 
score in the very last minutes of 
play 'sifter a fierce battle. This, was 
all iij Davis' favor. It didn't take 
any hypo stuff to go to town on such 
a situation. ' 

.Commercial plugs- were wisely 
confined to period .breaks and the 
advane'e session^. Handled okay by 
Harry. Hartman, .the station's- base- 
ball, boxing and .wrestling spieler. 
Bob Richards, did all right oh the 
intermission and descriptive chatter!. 
He's reporter on the Post, owners of 
WCPO. • ' Koll. 



New Business 



MUSICAL DIRECTOR 
ROXY THEATRE, N. Y. 



Comedy Script and Gag Writer 

A joke is a joke, but comedians' 
gags, very often, are ho laughinf? 
matter. Let them laugh with 
my gags — They're- good— They're 
New. . » . 

Writs BILL THOMAS, Box 5 
VARIETY, New York 



Free' Grid Dope 

,San Francisco. 
, Special chart listing all major grid 
games of the season,- with teams' 
strength rating in the opinion of 
; football experts, . and scores of last 
iyear.'s- contests^* being offered KPQ- 
dialers by Moore's clothing stores in 
connection with a new Saturday, 
night ■ program,. 'Football ' Score 
Board.' 

Charts are obtainable without 
charge . at the stores. Program-, pre-' 
sented by- Larry Keating, gives final 
scores of all important college games 
played -that afternoon* : 

< BHlle» on Parade' - 

' . . ..Memphis. 

Radio with - a circus vtouch was 
given Memphis- when -WHBQ. went 
'parading, for 'its--' . 'Saturday v Night 
Barn.- Dance' broadcast from its new 
auditorium studio, Radio Playhouse. 
Bob- Alburty loaded 50 'hillbillies' 
M>nt6-- a ; sound - truck, heavily em- 
blazoned with signs inviting the putw 
lie to the show. They yodeled, 
shouted, plunked guitars, in both 
business and residential sections. Gag 
pulled turnaway crowds for the 
show, a weekly feature. 



'Ask Your Grandmother' 

■ Nashville. 

H. Cohen, one of the oldest furni- 
ture houses in Nashville, with its 
slogan, 'Ask your grandmother where 
she bought her furniture,' is using 
a series called 'Songs of. Yesteryear' 
over WLAG.- Sponsor advertises he 
will dedicate, the program to the 
oldest customer writing in during 
the" week arid will furnish refresh- 
ments fpr a .'listening-in' party. 

Day or two before the broadcast 
sponsor calls customer selected, tell- 
ing him or ' her to invite as many 
guests as he or she would like and 
requesting number. Refreshments 
are sent in time to be served just 
before broadcast and program is 
dedicated to customer. Customer 
also receives a worthwhile present 
from the furniture stock. 
„ Series is set for at least six months 
longer. 



TEMPLE vs. MISSISSIPPI 
With Dolly Stark, Les Qualey, Sandy 

Guyer 
ATLANTIC REFINING 
Frid ay, 8:45 p.m. EST. 
WIF, Philadelphia 

• (N. W.. Ayer) . 

Dolly Stark, former baseball urn 
pire who entered radio last summer 
as play-by-play spieler of diamond 
tilts, has been drafted again by 
Ayer, this time as grid reporter. Ap 
pears to take to new field like gander 
to aqua. • Has obviously spent, his 
autumns following pigskin, doings 
after baseball w?trsr were over. 

No matter, what's happening on 
field Stark keeps, his wits in his 
noodle." Never fprgets.ta.keep, audi- 
ence informed of .what's going on. 
Doesn't guess,' but will tell &s much 
as he knows, then wait for develop- 
ments.- As a result he rarely has to 
correct himself. Nor does he in- 
dulge in over-description, hut lets 
his listeners decide wh.af.s ^exciting, 
and what isn't— which is reasonable 
enough'.* ~ 

Prime fault Jn broadcasts of Tem- 
ple games - is lack of crowd noises 
mixed in with descriptions. Appar- 
ently broadcasting is. done from en^ 
closed booth. That may be comfort-s 
able '.for .sp_ielersj but it , removes 
much of color and atmosphere from 
"broadcast. 
' Commercials are ' confined ' to 
lengthy one (about minute) at open- 
ing, 40 seconds at quarter, one each 
of 35 seconds and 70 seconds at half, 
30 seconds at third quarter and short 
one at <:lbse: All in good taste.- 

Nice^ 'touch- at this broadcast- was 
appearance- - of Lud -Wray;' 'former 
Penn coach and- local resident, :-as 
expert dopester during half. Lent 
interest and authority to pro-ram. 

•Hobe. 



BOSTON 

R. H. White Co., Boston (Depart- 
ment Store), 1 728 30-word announce- 
ments, two daily including Sundays, 
a.m. and p.m. through Chambers & 
Wiswell, Boston, WNAC; 

C. F. .Mueller Co., Jersey City, 
N. J. (Macaroni), 78. 30-word an- 
nouncements, daily, except Sundays, 
1:00 p.m.. ending Dec. 16, through 
E. W. Hellwig, N. Y., WNAC. 

Jo-An School of Beauty Culture, 
Boston, 52 time signals, ending Nov. 
5.. Through George W. Danielsoh, 
Providence, R, I., WNAC. 

Community Dentists — Dr. Lewis. 
Inc., Boston, 114 15-minute pro- 
grams, Noon, five times weekly, 
starting April 26 and ending Sept. 
30, 1937. Direct, WNAC. 

Modern Mechanics Pub, Co., New 
York, 13 half-hour programs, once 
weekly, Sundays, Noon, starting Oct. 
4- and ending December 27. Pro- 
gram Listing: The March of Modern 
Mechanics' through Ruthra uff & 
Ryan, N. Y„ WNAC (also WTIC, 
WEAN, WTAG, WICC, WCSH, 
WSAR, WNBH, WLLH): 

Socony-Vacuum, New York, series 
of 8 football games, starting Oct. 3 
and ending. Nov. 26 (Yale Football 
Schedule), through J. Sterling 
Getchell, Inc, N. Y., WNAC (also 
WEAN, WORC, WLLH, WICC, 
WCSH, WLBZ, WTHT, WMAS, 
WFEA, WSAR, WNBH, WATR). 

The Crusaders, Mentor, Ohio (Bet- 
ter Government Organization), - a 
series of 15-minute programs, twice 
weekly, p,m., starting Sept. 24 (Ex- 
piration Date to- be announced). 
Program - Listing: Andrew F. Kelley, 
The Horse Sense Philosopher, 
through Marschalk & Pratt, Inc., 
N. Y. WAAB. 

CINCINNATI 
Bunte Bros., candies, spot an- 
nouncements, ' thrice weekly, 52 
weeks. Fred A. Bobbins, Chicago. 
WCKY. 

Omega Chemical Co., 5 . spot an- 
nouncements weekly, Oct. -5-Feb. 19. 
Husband & Thomas. WCKY. 

Beaumont Laboratories, 110 one- 
minute e. t. announcements on Four- 
Way Cold Tablets, Oct. 12-March 12. 
H.-W. Kastor & Co, Chicago. WCKY. 

National Carbon Co., minimum of 
26 station break or time signal an- 
nouncements on Prestone, starting 
Oct. 19. J..M. Mathes, Inc. WCKY, 

May Stern Co., household goods, 
local, 26 five-minute e.'t programs 
during • ^morning woman S hour. 
WKRC. 

Schuster. Electric Co., local; 100 
50-word announcements, four daily. 
WKRC. 

Maryland Pharmaceutical Co 
• (Rem), 50-word announcements, 
seven times weekly, six months. 
Joseph Katz. ; WKRC. , 

Schoenling ' Brewing Co., local, 
'Today's Winners,' daily except Sun- 
day, one hour, 26. weeks, WCPO. 

Rudolph Wurlitzer Co., local, 30- 
minute Future Stars' programs, re- 
newal for 26 weeks. WCPO. 

Rogers Jewelry Co., local, 400 spot 
announcements. WCPO. 

Model Shoe Stores, professional 
football games, Sunday afternoons, 
11 weeks. WCPO. - : 
- ; Penfield -Co., .157ihinute-. 'Unusual 
,Lawsuits.' programs; once a week, 26 
weeks. . WCPO-. 



spot announcements, 11 days. Direct 
WIP. 

Chase & Sanborn ('Good Will 
Court'), one .hour weekly, 52 weeks. . 
Through WMCA. WIP. 

General Mills, Inc., (Wheatles), • 
four, five-minute sport resumes im- 
mediately preceding football games 
Oct. 31, Novl 14, Nov. 21, Nov. 26. 
Through Simons-Michelson Co. WD?. 

Penna. Real E state Association, 
one hour. Direct. WD?. • 

5am the ' Tailor, three spot an- 
nbuncements weekly, 26 weeks. 
Through Gallagher & Muir, WIP. 

HARTFORD 

Scott Furriers, 52 half-hour pro- 
grams every,- Sunday. , 'Guess Who' 
contest Through Hammer Agency, 
WDRC. ■ 

Hygrade Oil Company, 26 50-word 

announcements before 'March of' 

Time' every Friday night Through 
Hammer Agency. WDRC. 

Imperial Dye Works, • Hartford, 
Conn., 26 15-rriinute programs t *Billle 
the Bachelor' Tuesdays and Thurs- 
days. Placed by Randall Agency. 
WTIC. 

Grody Chevrolet, West Hartford, 
Conn., 100 25-word announcements, 
6:00 p.m., five nights a week. Placed 
by Hammer Agency. WDRC; 

Dr. J. H. Fagan, Hartford, 13 15* 
minute electrical transcription, pro- 
grams 'Care of Teeth' every Sunday 
between 12: 45, and 1:00 p,m. Placed 
by Hammer Agency, WTHT. 

Salz Style Shop, Hartford and 
New Britain. 26 15-minute broad- 
casts, electrical transcription, 7:30 to 
7:45 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays. 
Placed by Julian Gross Agency* 
WDRC. 

Fashion Center, Hartford, 26 15- 
minute broadcasts. Electrical tran- 
scription; 'Love Story.' Placed by 
Hammer Agency. WDRC. 



PENN vs. LAFAYETTE 

With Paul Douglas, Les Qualey, WU- 

mer -Crowell, Taylor .Grant 
ATLANTIC REFINING 
Saturday, 1:45 u.m. EST 
WCAU, Philadelphia ■ 

'AN. W. Ayer) . 

As a oroduction job, this initial 
broadcast . of ' Atlantic Refining's 
sponsorship of Penn football games 
was entitled to nods all around. But 
what came through the "loudspeaker 
was anything but a triumph. That 
was due to some of the shoddiest 
play-by-play spieling Philly has 
heard in several seasons. 

To handle this assignment, Atlan- 
tic Refining had Paul Douglas for 
main play-by-play descriptions. Wil- 
mer Crowell, former college player, 
coach and referee, handled technical 
explanations. Les Qualey apparently 
was - in general charge, and Taylor 
Grant-handled commercials. System 
of signals was set up between Crow- 
ell and officials whereby listeners 
were informed of rulings on the field 
almost at once. If the jplay-by-play 
had been up to this department, dial- 
ers could have . followed the game 



HOLLYWOOD 

Hollywood Steel Trailer Co., six 
15-minute hews broadcasts 26 times. 
Through itoyal. : Agency. KMPC -. ■• 

Los Angeles Dept. of Water & 
Pqwer, spot announcements five 
times weekly, four stanzas'. Through 
Dan B. Miner. KMPC: 

.Furmbilt Clothing, spot announce- 
ments, six 'tithes weekly. Through 
John Austin /DriscoU. .KMPC. ' < 
. . JBozzani -Motors, -Ltd;, spot • an- 
nouncements, six times weekly 30 
times.- Through Lockwood-Shackel- 
ford. KMPC. 



PHILADELPHIA 

Kik, Inc., soft chinks, five -spot an- 
nouncements weekly, five months, 
C. Frederick Bell, Inc.; Agency. WD?. 

Goldban-' Pharmacol - Gov ' (Tar- 
pihod) 1 two' spot announcements 
weekly. ■ Direct. ; WD?. - "' -: 

Rev. Russell Taylor, religious, one 
hour weekly, 13. Weeks. Direct; WIP. 

Electrical Association- of Phila., 36 



more intelligently than those in the 
stands. 

Where broadcast flopped was in 
Douglas' handling of descriptions. 
His pre-game. color and build-up 
was okay, but when he began call- 
ing' hostilities he was immediately 
over his head. Indulged in frequent 
guesses (which often missed), be- 
came excited and forgot to cover the 
play while gurgling adjectives. Nu- 
merous glaring, examples of lack of 
knowledge anent technicalities. Once 
mistook a touchback for a safety, and 
that boner never was corrected, put- 
ting the listeners two points ahead 
of this actual score., 

All of which is too bad, as Douglas 
has a pleasant voice which doesn't 
weary: He's able to talk fast with- 
out sliding into mere hodge-podge. 
•Crowell's interpretive comment was 
concise ahd clear. Only flaw was his 
apparent diffidence before the mike. 

Incidental sounds Were neatly 
picked up, and the commercials 
were models of propriety. Couldn't 
have totalled more than two and a 
half minutes for the three-hour 
sketch. Hobe. 




phi! 




r 



THK 

AMERICAN 
E 0 1 TO R 



-4- G U L F R"E FIN I N G A 



C OMPAN Y - 
SUNDAYS * 
7:30-« P.M., EST 
WAMC 
CRS 



HENRY 

BUSSE 

And His Orchestra ! 

jCHEZ PAREE 

CHICAGO 
—INDEFINITELY— 

MAR-O-OIL 

NBC— Const- to Const 
3-8:30 P.M. VST 
MHtiax^nient: M.C.A. 



RAY 
PERKINS 

London— Oct. 10-17 
Pari*— Oct. 18-25 

New York— Nov^ 3 ► 



Wednesday, October 7, 1936 



A D I 



VARIETY 



43 



NETWORK SPONSORS 



WEEK OF OCT. 7-13 

(ALL TIME EST) 

Commercial programs are listed alphabetically under, the adver- 
tiser's . corporate name. Asterisk indicates advertising agency han- 
dling program. 

Where* sponsor has more than one network program, they are 
•listed Consecutively. 

All time is P. M. unless otherwise noted. 

Abbreviations: SU (Sunday); M (Monday); TU (Tuesday)* W 
(Wednesday); TH (Thursday); F (Friday); S (Saturday), 



NATIONAL 

Red— WEAF. ;Blue—WJZ 



ACME . 
«:30-Su-WEAF ■ 
•Home Harmonies' 
Smiling- Ed ' McCon- 

nell 
Irma Glenn 
Palmer Clark Oro . 
*H. H. McDonald • 
. .j AMERICAN .«-*N 

. fi-Ttl-XVAZ 
. Ben BernleA Lads 
Gertrude Berg . 
♦Fuller-SmltU-'Rosa 

' AMERICAN 
. HOME PRODUCTS 
(Anaelnl - • 
Tne*.-Wed.-Thur, 

WJZ-7 F.M, 
Daily Ace** • 
Goodman Ac* 
Jana> Ace 
Mary Hunter 
Blackett-S-B:, . 
AMER.. TOBACCO 

10 p.m.-W-WKAF 
Harry' Sosnlk Oro.. . 
Edith Dick 
Buddy Clark 
Songnmlths 4 
•Lord. A .Thomai 

AMES. RADIATOR 
. 7:Jn">Bun*WEAF 
•Fireside Recitala* 
Sigurd Nllsien 
. Willie Morris" 
Frank St. Eeger ' 
•Blaker AdvL - 

. BABniTT CO. 

11 h.m.-Mon. to 
. Frl-WJZ '. 

David Ha rum* : 
Wllmer Walter 
Peggy A lien by 
Paul Stewart 
John MacBryde 
•Blackett ' 

BOWEt'S 

Sn-1:80-Tlmr«. 

0 p.m.-WEAF 

•While the' City. 

-Sleeps' - '" . 
Finney . Brlgge .' - • 
Forest. Lewis 
Vivian Frldfll • 
Jess Fugir - 
Clare Baum 
Charles Egg lest on 
Cecil Hoy 
Marie NelBon 
Pauline Hopkloi 
James Gobs 
•Comer 

BRISTOL-MYERS 
(Sal Hepatic*) 
t-W-WKAV 

(Ipana) 
Feed Allen 
Portland Hoffa 
Peter Von Steedan 

CAHPANA 
10 p.m.-Fri-WEAF 
•First Nlg-htor' 
Bon Ameche 
Barbara Luddy 
'Aubrey, M._A W, . 
CABNATlO* M.1IJI 

10-U-WEAF 
-Lullaby Lady 
Maud Muller 
'M L Eastman 
Rath JLyon 
■•Hrwln. Wasey 

.CITIES SEKVICh 

8-F-WEAF 
Jesslta Dragonette 
Rosarlo Bourdon Ol 

Revelers 

"Lord & Thomas 
FOBD - 
Frl-9:00-W.IZ 

Fred Waring 1 *" < 
PennnylvanlanB 
W. Ayer 

FIRESTONE 
«:S0-M-\VEAF. 

Margaret Speaks - 
Wm Daly's Drc 
Vocal' Ensemble 
"Sweeny-James 
FITCH .. 
. 9:4B-Sn-WEA* 

Mortn Sisters 
Ranch Boys 
'ti. W. Ramsey 
GENERAL FOODS 

(Calumet) 
m B-Suri-WJZ 
VWe. the People' 
Phillips Lord • 
Mark Marrnow Ore 
•Young A Rirblcam. 
6:30-Sun-WJZ 
• (Tapioca) 
Stoopnagle & Budd 
Don* Voorhees -Ofcor-- 
•Young & Rublcam 
■ (Sanka)' 
8 P.m.-Mon-WJ Z 
•Bambl' 
Helen Hayes 
James Melghnn 
Wllmer Walter 
vera Adams 
Laura Bowman 
«ark Vfaoiow Ore'- 
*ioung & Rublcam 

**2P> Cabin Dude 

Ranch* 
Louise Massey & 

Westerners 
Dott Massey 
w ,m Massey 
Milt Mable 
Jfarry Wellington 
<..am C r 0n Andrews 
J °lin Milton 
(Maxwell) 
H-Tli.WEAF 
Show Boat' 
Lanny Rosa 



Helen Jepsen 
Honey Dean 
Sam Hearn 
'Molasses 'n' JonVy' 
Pat Padgett 
Pick Mttlone 
Ross Graham 
Al Goodman Oro 
•Benton A Bow is; 

(JellO* 
."' 7-6u-WEAF 
Jack Benny 
Mary Livingston 
Kenny Baker 
Don -Wilson 
Bb.ll .Harris Oro 
•Young A Rublcam 
GENERAL MILLS 

6:80-Mon to Frl- 
WEAF 
.'Jack Armstrong. 

AIl-Aroerlcan Boy' 
Jim Ameche 
John Gannon 
Wm.' Myers 
Jane Malkanus 
James Goss 
Gilbert Douglas ... 
♦Blnckett-S.-H. 
GEN'R'L MOTOR'S 

10-Su-WEAF 
Gen. Motor Sympb, 
Erno Rapee, Dir. . 
Bruno Costagna 
•C'mpbell-Evvnld . 
GENERAL SHOE 

10:30-Tn-W.IZ 
•Portraits of Har- 

'mony' 
Phil Harris Ore ' 
•C' J. :CIark, Inc. 
GOODYEAR TIKR 

7:15-M-W-F-WJ7<-. 
'Literary Digest 

PoU' 
John B. Kennedy 
•Kudner, Inc. 

HOUSEHOLD 

FINANCE 
>:S0-Ttj-UMZ 
red gar A. Guest 
Be'Tiardln. Flvnr 
Sidney Ellotrom 
Galllcehfoi Oro 
•C D Frav 

HORMCR'R 
(Malted Mllk> 
M to F-7:30-WJZ 

LunvA Abner . 
Chaster. Lsucb 
Norrta GolT. 
•Lord A Thomas 

HUDSON COAL 
2-Su-WEAF 
•Beneath the Sur- 

faoe' 
Landt 3 A White 
Col Jlr. Healey 
•Lalghton-Nelson 
4RROKN 
O.-Oe-Sa-tVJZ- ■ 
Walter Wlnchell 
•Lennen .4' MJtcbell 

JOBNBON -ft SON 

(Floor Wax) ■ 
8 p.m.-Mon.-WEAF 

•Fibber McGee * 
Welly* 

Marlon A J. Jordan 
..Charles Laveer 
Ted Weems' 
♦Need bam. U A B. 

HELLOGG 

-0:30-Dall.T Ex. Sn- 

Su-WJZ 
'Sfnglng Lady* 
freene Wicker 
Milton Rettenberg, 

pianist 
N. W. Ayer 

KRAIT-1MIENIX 
lO-Tli-WXAF 
Bob Burns 1 
Jean Hersholt 
Madeline Carroll 
Patricia Ellis 
Frederick Jagel 
Jimmy Dorsey Oro 
•J Walt. Thnmp. 

LADV ESTHER 
As30-Td-W-WEAF 
.Wayne King Oro 
♦Stack-Globe 

XIPTON, INC. 
10:30 a.m.-TlnirH- 

WEAF 
Ralph Klrbery 
Al A Lee Relber 
♦PreBbry 

IX)OSE AV1T.ES 
•J-Sat-WKAF 
'Snow Village 

Sketches' ' 
Avthur A'Jlen 
Parker Fennelly 
•Nowell-Emmett 

UACFADDKN 
(Tru^ Siorv). 
8'SO-F-WEAF 
'Court of Human 

Relations' 
Percy Hem us 
Ned Wever 
Wllmet Walker 
Alice Relnheart 
Rita, Johnson 
Helen Spring 
Vera- Allen 
Fred Felkel.' Org 
Lucille Wall 
Allyn Joslyn 
"Arthur Kudoer 

Krainhattftn Sonp 
11:30 a.m.-Tufs & 
Thnr-WEAF 

•Wife Saver* 
Allen Prescott 
♦Peck 

OR. MILES LAU'tf 
(Arka-S«lt7.»rl 
8:»W-So-WJZ 

Nat'l Barn Dance 

Unci* Ezra, 

Lulu Belle 

Maple City 4 



7:15 ' M-W-F-}VKAF 
'Uncle Ezra.' Radio 

Station RZRA 
Pnt Barrelf 
Carletnn Guy 
Norn Cunneen 
•Wade 

MODERN FOODS 

•»:!M)-Tu-WJZ 
'Dog H<"ro«R' 
Hairy Swan 
•ClenientH 

MOI.I.E 

9 p.m.-Tu-WEAE 
•Voice or the Peo- 
ple" ■ 
Parks Johnson 
Wallace Butter- 

worth 
•Stalk-G.oble 

. MORELL'H 
4 p.m.-Thur-WEAF 
'Tea Time' 
Gale Page 
Chas, Sears ' 
Galllcchla'e Ore 
•Henri, H.. & McD. 
J. W„ MORROW 

(Mor-O-Oll) 
. 4.We<l r WEAF 
Henry Busse Ore 
♦Baggoley, H. A H. 
NAT'L BISCCIT 

OiSO-Frl-WjZ" 
'Twin Stars* 
-Rosemnrle Brancato 
Jtelen Clahe 
Joseph Bonlne Ore 
•McGann-Erlckson 
PACKER'S 
.(Tar Soap) 
2:30-Su-WEAF 
'Thatcher Colt Mys- 

' tery Series' 
Hanley .Stafford 
•Stack-Goble 
PACKARD 
9:30-Tu-WUAF 
Fxed Astatre 
Johnny Green Oro 
Ohas. Butterworth 
Trudy Woods 
Frank Sullivan 
"Young & Rublcam 
PACIFIC BOIIAX 
8:30-Frl-WJZ 
-Death Vall'y Dayr 
edwln W. Whitney 
Lonesome Cowboy 
•lean King 
John MacBryde 
Jeff Bryant 
McCann-Drlck 

PEPSODENT 
I-Dally Kt Snt Sun- 

WEAF 
Amos 'n' Andy 
Freeman Gosden 
Charlea Correlt 
Lord A Thomas 
rHII.IP MORRIS 

g-Tu-WEAF 
Phil Duey 
Loretta Clemens 
3 Sweethearts 
l.eo RHnraan's Ore 
Eton Boys 
Charles Martin 
•Blow 

1'ILLSBURV 
T«dnv's ChlMr»n' 
• l«:4a-D«lly-WEAF 
truia Phillips 
Walter Wicker 
Bess Johnson 
Ireene Wicker 
Lucy Glllman 
Fred Von A mora — 
Jean McGregor 
•Hutchinson 

POND'S 
(Cold P.r»fim) 
«:30-Tu-W.IZ 
'Hnsbanfls A Wives' 
SedleV Brown 
Allle L"wc Miles 
•J. W. Thompson 
PRINCESS PAT 
0:30-Son-WEAF 
•A Tale or Today* 
.loan Blaine 
Harvey Hays 
Lauretta FJllbrandt 
Wlllard Farnum 
Robert Griffin 
Harrietts WIdmer 
Frank Pascelll 
Isabel Randolph 
••McJunkln 

P'CTR A G'MDLB 

fCrlsco) 
3:30 Dnlly Ex. Ra- 

Sd-WEAF-11:30 
n.m.-WJZ 

Vlo A Sade' 
Art Vsn Harvey 
„Rllly Irt^lson 
Dernnrdlne Flynn 

(Tvory Soap> 
3:45-M to F-\VEAF 
•The O'Neills' 
Kate McComb 
Jane West 
Violet Dunn 
Jimmy Donelly 
Jnrlf Rubin 
Chester Stratlon 
Jimmy. Tnnsey 
Janice Gilbert 
•Blackman 

(Oxydol) 
3:15 Dally Except 
tia * rsu-HEAF 
'Ma Perkins* 
Virginia Payne 
Mnrjorle ITannan 
CHas EgtVjon 
Hilda Graham 
Charner Batson 
John Mathews 
Corlne Dearth 
Butler Mimdevllle 
Ken GrllTIn 
•Blackett 

'Olllp«n» 

11:15 a.m. Daily 
Except Hnt & Bun- 
WJZ 

"Home Sweet Home' 
S. G. Smith 
Harriett McGlbbon 
Rltly Halop 
•Blackman 



(Camay) . 
Mod to Frl-10:30- 

WJZ- 
Tepper Young* 
Curtis Arn.nll 
Betty. Wragge 
Marlon Barney 
.T«<tk Rofclelgh 
•Pedlar A Rvan 
(Ivory Soap> 
11:45 a.m. Dally 
exi-ept Sat. A Sun- 

WJZ 
'Gospel Singer 1 
Edward MacHugb 
•Blackman 

(Ivory) 
9:4S-Mon-Th-Frl- 
W.1Z . 
Capt. Tim Healy 
•Blackman . 
QUAKER OATS CO. 
'Kaltepmeyer'e Kin- 
dergarten' 
B.-30-Sat. WEAF 
Bruce Kamman 
Marlon Jordoq 
Jim Jordan 
Joh'nny Wolf 
Thor Brlcson 
Merrill Fuglt 
Harry Kogen . Ore 
•Lord 'A Thomas 

(Ry Krisp> 
5-5:30-Son-WEAF 

Marlon Taljey 
Josef Koestner's Or 
•Gardner 

RADIO GLIDE 
10-FrMV.IZ 
Shep- Fields Ore 
Jessica Dragonette 
Stoopnagle A Budd 
Dana Doran 
Ben Grauer 
Fred.Uttal 

R. 0. A. 
3- p.m.-Bun-W.IZ 
'Maglo Key or RPA 
John McCormack 
Erna Sack 
Eduardo Donato 
Milton Cross 
John B. Kennedy 
Frank Black, Con- 
ductor 
•Lord A Thomas 
REAL SILK 
10-Snn-WJZ 
'Behind the Kcad- 
^■llnes' 

Edwin C. Hill " 
Harry Sosnlk Ore 
•Burnett • • 

REGIONAL 4.DV. 
11:30 a-m.-Tn-SiU- 

WEAF 
•Mystery Chef 
•McCann-Erlckson 

SHEF1TELD 
•J:45-M-Th-F-WEAr 
Billy ajyd BeUv 
Jimmy McCallloh.. 
Florence Sterling 
Wilfred Lytell 
Audrey Egan 
•N. W . Aye r 
SHELL 
(Petroleum) 
9:80-Sa-WEA» 
Smith Ballew 
Edward E. Horton 
Gertrude NIesen ' 
Stuart Erwln 
Tudor Williams 
Peggy -Stanton 
Jack Gardiner 
Vlotor Young Ore 
•J. Watt Thompson 
SINCLAIR 
t-H-WJZ 
Our Van 
Red Grange. 
Malcolm Claire 
Sinclair Qc - 
Bill Chllds 
Fritz Clark 
Joe. Parson* 
Harry Kogen 
•Federal 

10:30-Frl 7 p.m.-Snt 
WEAF 

Harold 'Red' Grange 
•Federal 

(Chase A Sanborn) 
SLOAN'S 
(Lini men t) 
fl-Mon-WEAF 
'20.000 Years In Sing 

SIng» 
Warden Lnwea 
♦Cecll-W-C. 
STAND. BRANDS 

S-Sn-VfEAF 
'Good Will Court* 
A: L. Alexander. 
Cond. 

(Royal Galnfln*) 
8-W-WEAF 
One Man's Family' 

Carleton E. Morce, 

author 
I. Anthony Smyth* 
Mlnetta Ellen 
Kathleen Wilson 
Michael Rafetto 
Walter Patterson 
Barton Yarborougb 
Bernice Berwln 
(Royal Gelat:n) 
B-Ihari-WUAtf 

G. Thompson. Dir. 
Rudy Valle* and 
• His Conn. Yank* 
Joan Blondell 
Bert Wheeler 
Mark Helllnger 
P. G. Wodehoun* 
O. Z. Whitehead 
Bill Frawley 

7:30-Sa-WJZ 
(Royal Gelatine) 
Robert 1,. Ripley 
Shirley Lloyd 
Ozzle Nelfion Ore 
•J. Walt, lliomp. 
STERLING PROD. 

■ (Dr. Lyons) 
11:16 a»m.*Mon-Tli- 

Frl-WEAF 
'Back Stage Wife' 
Vivian Fridell 
Ken Giiffen 
Hilda Graham 
Henry Saxe 
Forrest Lewis 
Norman Gottschalk 



Alice Pnt ton 

•Blackett-S.-H. 
11:30 a.m.-Mon- 
WeU-Frl-WKAF 

•Bow to Be Charm- 
ing' 

Beatrice DeSylvera 
♦BlacKett-S.-H. 
(Bayer's Aspirin) 

8:30-*4V<hI-WJZ - 
'Capt. Jinks' 
Ethel Barry more 
'Blackett 

(Bayer's) 

t:30-Nn-1VRAF 
'American.. Album' 
Franli Munn 
Lucy Monroe 
Arden A Arden 
tius' Haenscben Orr 
Bert HlrscM 

(Phllllpc Mag) 
0-F-tVEA* 
WalU Time' 

T.vman Xlro 
Rernlre rialre 
Fra-nlt Munn 
rDr. Lynnn Tooth ' 
nasteV 
0-Sii-WEAF . . 
'Manhattan Merry-' 

Go-Round' 
Pierre Le Kreun 
Rachel Curlny 
Men /bout Town 
Andy Snnnella Ore 
•Blackett 

(Phllllns, Mae) 

8:30-WJZ-Mon 

'Klelodlana' 
Abe Lyman Oro 
Oliver Smith 
Bernice Claire 
•Blackett 

(Dr. Lyons Powder) 
* K.ni.-Wed-tVJZ 
'Revue d* Paris* 
F-innle Tlrite 
Victor Arden Ore 
•13lail;i>tt 

6TUDEIIAKF.R 
0:30-Mon-WEAF 
'Studeb'U'r CI) am us' 
Richard Jllmber Or 



Lanny Ross 
•Roche-Wllllams 

SUN Oil. 
6:45-Dally Kxeepl 

8a-So-H'JZ 
Lowell Thorns* 
•Roene -Williams 

TASTVEAST • 
. 12-Kp-WJZ 

"Pnceant or. Ynulh' 
Pinky Mitchell 
Johnny Jbhnaon Ore 
•Clemtnle- ' 
WANItER CO. 

(Ovaltlne) 
K:4l5-lrnllT-W.IZ 
Little Orphnn A* 
Henrlef(B Tedro 
J«ek' Mnther 
Art Van yiytca 
T!"orre"<t l<ewls 
Vic Smith. 
Binjene McGllten 

•Cecil. W * c. ' 

' WASEV 
ll-« «.m.-M-W-F. 

Tn-Tli-7:15- p.m. 
'Voire of Eiperl • 
. enoe' 

•■Wp«^i» 

8:l.VF-l-t«-j|on- ■ 
W-1Z 
'Slntrln' Sam* 
Hp.rry Frankel 
•Wasey 

WELCH 
(G"Wt«»e .Tvlr*) 

' 8-F-W.1Z 
trene Rlrb 

, H , «ni»iipi»«N 

O^it-Sn-nMZ 
Paul Whlteman 
Roy P.arcy 
Samnnn . 
'<lng'!> Men 

.Tixiv, . Annie #■ Zeke 
T>.ob T^ , '*»-ei»ce 
■nixie )V><s 
•T.ennen A Mitchell 
Inc. 



COLUMBIA 

WABC 



AFFILIATED 
PROD. 

(Edna Wallace 
Hopper Cosmetics) 
1S-30-M-F-WAHC 
'Romance of Helen 

Trent' 
Virginia Clark 
Marie Nelson 
David Gotliard 
(J o c u r, Klssproof, 
Outdoor Girl, Del- 
lca-Brow Cosmetics) 
l»:4t>-M to F-WARC 
'Rich Man's Darling' 
Peggy Allenby 
Ed Jerome 
Ona Munson 
•Blackett 

A« P 

8- Th-WABC 
Kate Smith's Band 

Wagon 
Tacit Miller's Oro 
Ted Collins 
Kathryn Van Horn 
'•Paris A Peart . 

AMERICAN. . 
HOME PRODUCTS 

(Rl.oodol) . 
VF-WABO 

"B'way Varieties* 
Oscar Shaw 
Carmcla Pnnselle 
'Elizabeth Lennox 
Victor Arden'ir 'Orr 

(Kolynos) • 
8 p.m.-Tu-WABC 
'Bammernteln 
Music Hall' 
Ted Haroihersteln 
Lucy Lauphlln 
Jerry Mann 
•BlnrUett 

AMERICAN 
TOBACCO CO. 
(Lucky Strike rig*) 

10-Ba-WAHC 
•Your Hit Parade 
and- Sweepstakes' 
Bob Harlng's- Ore 
Buddy Clark 
Edith Dick 
Songamiths 4 
•Lord A Thomas 
ATLANTIC 
REFINING 
7:ia-Ta-Th-Sa- 
WABC 
Sportcast, Ted Hus- 
ing 

♦N. W. Ayer 
BENEFICIAL 
MANAGE (»lir. 

(Personal loans) 

n-flu-wAi»c 

Tour Unseen 

Friend' 
M. H. If. Jonchlm. 
Harry Salter's Ore 
♦Franlc-I.nw 

CAMPBELL. 

(Soup) 
9-F-WABO 
'Hollywood Holer 
'The Charge of the 

Light Brigade* 
Errol Flynn 
Olivia De Haviland 
Dick Powell -, 
Anne Jamison 
Louella I'arnons 
Raymond Paige Ore 
Frances Langford 
Igor Gorln 

(Tomato Juice) 
8:30-W-WABO 
Burns A Allen 
Jimmy Newell 
Ken Nlles 
Henry King's Ore 
*?. W. armstronc 
CHRYSLER CORP. 

9- Tli-WABC 
Major BOwes Ama- 
teur. Hour 

*Ruthrauff A Ryan 
COLGATE- PA Ul- 
OUVE-PEET 
(Palmollve Soap) 
0:30-W-WADO 
'Palmollve Come On, 

Let's Sing* 
Homer RodeheaVel 
Tiny RufTner 

10- W-WAIIO 
(Shave Crcnm) 

'Gang Busters'. 
Phillips Lord 
Alice Reinhart 
James VanDyk 
Howard Smith 
Matt Crowley 

(Super Suds) 
7:30 -M-W-F-WABC 
'Goose Creek Par- 
son* 

Josiah - Hopkins 
Mary Michael 
Elvia A 11 man 



Dan Davles 
Sara Hopkins 
•Benton » Howies 

CONTIN ENTA L 
BAKING 

(Wonder Bread) 
0:45 Dully ex. So A 

Su-WABO 
'Renfrew or the 

Mounted' 
Laurie York Ers- 

klne. Au. 
House Jameson 
Chester Stratton 
Joan Baker 
Hanley Stafford 
•B. B. D AO. 

CllDAHY PACK. CO 

(OlrfDutch Cleanser) 
9:45 a.pt.-M to F- 

WABC 
'Bachelor's Children' 
Patricia. Dunlap 
Marjorv Honnnn 
Hugh Studehaker 
Olan Soule ' 
'•Roche. Williams -A 
Cunnyngham . t . 

r. b. mvis c6.. 

.(CocorraU) 
0-Sa-WABC 
Joe Permer 
Jlmmie Grler'n Ore 
•Rutbrauff A Ryan 
Dem. Nnil Comm.' 

18t4It-Tn-WABC 
'Happy Days' 
n.S. Adv.' Corp. 
E I DU PONT 
NEMOURS A CO. 

S-W-WABC 
•Cavalcade of Am. 
Arthur Pryor. J r„ 

Dir. ' 
Kenneth Wehh. An. 
Don Voorhees* Oro 
*n B P * o 
EIXIIV V«TIOVAL 
WATCH CO. 

8?30~Sa-WARC 
'Elrln Football 

Revue' 
Ed Thorgersen . 
Kay Kyser's Ore 
♦J. W. Thompson 

FEI.8 * CO. 
(Fels Naptha Hoap) . 

11 a.m.-To-Th- 
^VABC 
'The Itliylhin Boy*' 
George Macdonald 
Al Dary - 
Ice Swltsiler 
Itay Kulz 

•Young A Rublcam 
FOKI> MOTOR 
0-Ta-W.AUC 

Fred Waring"* Qro 

Tom Waring 

Vera Brodsky ■ 

Harold Trlggs 

Rosemary Lune 

PrisciUa Lane 

Poley McClinlock 

Johnny Davis 

Ferne Buckner 

Charles Newman 

Gene Conklln. 

Swing Octet 
9-Su-WABC 

'Ford Sun. Eve. 
Hour" 

Klrsten Flagstud 

Fritz Reiner 

•N. W. Ayer 
Cond. 

«K.V nAKING 
5:30-Sll-U'ABC 

Guy Lomhardo and 

His Orchestra 
•B.B.D. A O. 
GENERAL MILLS 

(Wheatles. BIs- 
qulnk. Gold Medal 
Flour, Sortasllk) 
10 a.m.-M to F- 

WABC 
'Betty and Bob' 
Ell-/.aljeth> Reller 
lister Tremnyne 
10:15 n.m.-U to F- 

"iVAHC 
•Modern Clndere.lla' 
Rosemary Dillon 
Eddie Dean 
ilen Oase 
10:30 a-ro.-M (d F- 

WABC 

John K. Watktns 
Betty Crocker 
10:48 a.m.-M lo Tli- 
'Hymns or All 

Churches' 
Joe Emerson 
Fred Jacky, Dtr 
10:45 a.m.-F-H'Allt 
Betty Crocker 
♦Blnchett-Samnle 

GILLETTE 
(Safety Razors and 
Blades) 
10-Sa-WABO 
'Community Sing' 
Ml'.lon Berle 



Wendell Hall 
Billy Jones 
Ernie Hare 
•Rutlu-auft A Ryan 
Jolly Gillette 

GOOD NEIGHBOR 
LEAGUE ET AL 

(Political groups) 
10:30-M-Tu-W-F- 
WABC 
'Roosevelt Progress" 
•Loomis'A Hall 

VVtJF 
1:30-Sn-W*BO 

The' Gasette' 
Phil. Baker 
Harry McNaughton 
Beetle 

Agnes Moorehead' 
Artie Auerbach 
Harry Von Zell 
Ed Smalle, Ar- 
ranger 
Maxine Gray 
Rs.l Kemp's Qro, 
7 G's 

•Young A Rublcam 
IIKCRKIt ll-O 

'(Force) 

WAIIO 

"Bnhbv Benson A 
Rlllv Halop 
Nelll O'Mallev 
Craig McDonnell 
John Shea 
Tean Southern 
Bert Parks 
•**pwlnW,«»» 
H. .1. HEIN7. »"0 

11. n.»".-' ,T -W-F- 
WABC 
'Heinz TTegazlne of 

the Air*- 
Gr^nd Duchess 

Marie 
Prunella Wood 
P>iell«, Hibben. 
Wendy Marshall 
Mm. Clnra Savage 

Llttledale ■ 
^nlta B'n'-k 
Delmnr Edmu.ndson 
Ann Elstner 
F.Isie Mae Gordon < 
Jorrv Macy 
Reed Kennedy 
Lelth Stavens Oro 

KNOX GELATINE 
11:15 o.m.-Tu-Th- 

WARC ' 
'Auallty. Twins' 
Ed East 
Ralph Dumke 
Gene Ramey 
Dick Ballou's Ore 
♦Federal 

LADY .ERTriHH 
. 10-M-WABC 
Wawne King's Ore 
•Stnelt-Gnhle 
IEHN & FINK 

(Pebeco) 
12 Noon-M t» F- 

WABC 
'The Gumps' 
Agnes Moorehead 
Wllmer Walter . 
Jackie Kelk. 
Hlman Brown, Dir. 
•Lennen A Mitchell 
(Hind's Honey and 
Almond Cream) 
12:15-M to F- 
WABO 
Ted Malone 
Fred Felbel 
♦WlUiam Esty Co. 

(Lysol) 
11:45 a.m.-M- W-F- 

WARO 
Dr. Allan Roy Dafoe 
Ruth Carhart 
♦Lennen A Mitchell 
LEVKK UKUh. 
(Lux Soap) 
O-M-WAHO 
•Radio Thewtro* 
■Cdrtaln Rises' 
.Ginger Rogers 
Cecil B. DeMllle. 
Dir. 

J. Walter Thompson 
(Rlnso A Lifebuoy) 

8:3Q-Tn-WABC 
"Laugh. With . Ben 

Murray* 
Ken Murrn'r 
Harry Rtchman 
Eva Arden 



Tony - 'Oswald' La- 

brldla 
Sassafras 
Russ Morgan's ore 

(Rlnso) 
11:30 a.m.-M to Th- 

WAItC 
'Big Sister' 
Alice Frost- 
Junior O'Dny 
Hella Stoddard 
Martfn Gabel - 
Lilian Lauferty, 

Author 
•Ruthrauff A Ryan 
LMMiETl' A 
MYERS 
(Cbosierfleld Clgs) 

. tf-tv-WAnr 

8:S0-F-WA1»C 

Nino Martini (W-ed. 

only) 
Kay Thompson and 

Rhythm Sinners 
Ray Heatherton : 
Andre Kostelaneta 

.Ore 

• Ne<i'<-il Fmoiett 

MALTEX CO. 
5-S0-M-W-F-WAIIC 
'The Treasure Ad- 
ventures .of. Jack 
Masters' 
Walter Tetley 
Gall- Gordon 
Alice Frost 
Mark Smith 
Charles Cantor .. 
•J. M. Mathes 
NASH MOTORS 
a-Sa-WAKC 
Floyd Gibbons 
Giovanni Martlnel.l 
Henry Burblg 
Vincent Lopez Ore 
. *3, W. Thompson 
riin.cn 
1:45: mill* ex. fta- 
Sn-\VABC 
rtonUe Carter 

PITTSftrRGH. 
PLATE GLASS* CO. 

• 2-fln-WABC 
Th4 Music - You 

Ix>ve* 
Pittsburgh Syrri- • 

phonv Ore. 
Frederick .Tngel 
Antonio Modarelll, 

Conductor 

♦ B. B. D. A O. 

It. .J. RRYNOLDB 

TO It. CO. 
(Camel Cigarettes) 

0:30-Tii-WABC 
'Camel Caravan' 
Rupert Hughes 
Pen Gonrtrririn's Bd 
Frank Forrest 
Helen Ward 
Georgle Stoll Ore 
•Wm. C. Esty Co. 
REPUB. NAT'L 

COMMITTEE 
7-M to F-WABC 
William Hard 
•Lord A Thomas _ 
ROYAL 
TYPEWRITER 
0:30-Tli-Sa-WABC 
"Football noundup' 
Eddie Dootey . 
♦Hanft-Metzger 
SEARS. ROEBUCK 

10-Th-WABC 
'Sears — Then and 

Now' 
'The Great Waltz' 
Marlon Claire 
John Boles 
Carlton Kelsey's Or 
Bill- Robsori, Pro- 
ducer 
Bees Johnson; Dir. 
•Stack-Goble ' 
STEir ART- 
WARNER 
' (Alrmllei 
8-M-WABC 
l^ysbeili FIuKbes 
Boh McCoy 
Art Thnreen • 
Horace Heldt Ore 
Bernie Mattlson 
King Sisters ■ 
Rndlo Ramblers 
Jerry Bowne 
Ctiarlex Goodman 
Dorothy Russell ■ 



Atvlho Rey 
♦Hay a MacF*Tlatid 
SWIFT A CO. 

(Sunbrlte) 
(Starts Oct. 12) 
5-M-W-F-WABC 
'Junior Nurse Corps' 
Lucy Glllman 
Sunda Love 
Helena Ray 
Donald' Week's 
Fran Carlon 
Parker Wilson 
Jack Brinkly. . 
Robert Romalne 
Jess Pu(fh 
William Ainsdell 
•Stack-Goble 

TEXAS CO, 
8:S»-Su-WAHC 
'Texaeo Fire Chief 
Eddie Cantor 
Harry Einstein 
Bobby Breen 
Jimmy Walllnglon 
Jacques Renard's-Or 
•Hanff-Metz^er ' 
U. S. TOBACCO 

(Dill's Best) . 
8:30-.M-WAUO 
Pipe SmoUIng Time' 
I'li-k A Pat • 
Landt 3 A. White . 
Benny Kruger's Oi 
•Arthur Kudner 
VICK CHEM. CO. 

8-Sn-WABC 
•Vlck's Open House' 
Nelson Eddy ' 



Frahcla White 

J; Pasternack'a Or* 

•Morse 

WARD BAKING 
e:Ifl-Tu-Th-S«- 
IVABC 
'News of Youth' 
Laddie Seaman 
Jackie Kelk 
Rthel Blume 
Alfred Cora 
Lester Jay 
Joyce Walsh 
Hanley Stafford 
Hi man Brown, Dir. 
•Fletcher A Ellis 

UHEATENA CORP 
7:J5-.M-W-F-WAIK) 
•Popeye, the Sailor* 
Floyd Thomas 

Buck ley 
Olive La Moy 
Charles Lawrence 
Jimmy Donnelly 
Ernie Watson,, ar* 
..ranger' 

Victor Aslor Er- 
wln's Oro 

Kelvin Keech, An- 
nouncer 

'tRohrnbaugh A 
Gibson 

Wll.DROOT CO. 

V:30-T|i-WABC 
Vee Lawnhurst * 
Paul Douglas 
Charioteers 4 
•B. B. D. A-.O. 



MUTUAL 

WOR 



ARMIN V.VRADY' 

I2:30-Su-WUN 

Peny Comb 
Hlmo Tanner. 
C'try Wnshburne 
Red Ingle 
Pierre Andre 
Ted . Weems Qro 
♦Seders 

CONTINENTAL 

BAKING 
Su-9 p.m.-WGN 

•The Wonder Show' 
Orson Welles 
Lee Patrick 
Rita Johnson 
Adcle RnnsOn 
Ned Wever 
Dwlght Welst- ♦ 
Frank Readlch 
Bill Pfingle 
Florence Holop • " 
BfTle Palmer - 
Ken Christie Oro 
scrappy Lambert 
Tubby Wey.out 
Len Stokes 
Boh Moody ' 
♦B.B.D. A O. 

CRAZY - WATfiR • 
HOTEL CO. 
1-1:15 Kni.-M-W.F- 
WOR 

'Music from. Texas' 
Jack Amlung Ore 
Mary HagmanA - * 
♦Luckey Bowman 

CRQfFN OVER A t:|>' 
'7j45 o.m.-Thp;. 
', ivtw. . .. 

'Pleafnnt Valley 

Frollo*. . 
Charles -Seel 
Dan Carson • 
Chas.- Dameron 
Betty l> Arnold : 
Florence- Golden 
Charles. Wayne 
Devoce Sis 
William Greene 
Clair* iGrenvllle.. 
Joe LugAr.Oro 
♦H. W. K*Wtor 

CRUSADERS 
Tu-7 :40.1V OB ' 

Tli# Crusadara* 

Fred G. Clark 

(Continued 



10-TJior-2:10-Sa- 

' WOR 

•Horse Sense PhHos- 
. ophe'r,' A. F.'-Kellr.' 
♦Marschalk A Pratt . 

ESTATE STOVE 
0:30 i).m.-FrI- 
WLW 

'Magazine of Air*, 
Vlckl Chase 
Herb'rt Splckermah 
Sydney Mason , : 
.Durward KJrby 
.Florence Gqlden ... 
Bess McCammon 
r^jUls Levy ' 
Boh Morrison 
Bill Stoess ' Oro 
*R H Jones •' 

. . FELS NAPTHA V: 

l^-M-W-F-lVON' ' 
Tom, Dick A Harry 
■Gordon Vandover .. 
Bod Vandover 
Marlln Hurt 
Carl Hoefle 
Ed Allen 

♦Young A Rublcam 

FENDBICK * 

(Denby Cigar) 
•. li805uiW*W . 
'Smoke Dreams' • 
•RUthrauft-Ryan . '. 
FRESH MJUt IND/ 

6:30-7-Srin-WflN 
'Stare of Milky SVay*- 
Bob- Trendler Qtc -' 
Glrfa- Vanna ' • '• ■>. 
Wayne. Van Dyne ■ 
Tlie' Grehadlersj 
•(Auteey,'. Moore, . ■ 
•Wallaee 

GENERAkV MltfJ* 

12:45 rMri.-M-to-F- 
WGN • 
•Kid Sl> ' . 
Betty Jeffries' • . 
Billy Troolc- '■. - . 
Grace Lockw«HI . [ . 
Ray J. Largay , . }.' 
Phyllss Duganna. \ ; 
.•B,-S>Hnrnttrtr* ' 
GORDQM ! 
' HAKERJIfW . A/ 

•Lone Jttangaf». ".' 
♦Sebl ■ ■-. ,Vi. 

• gboen. ' 

8-FH-WOR .; , 
•Time FMes* ».-»; 

oh page 40) *' 



SURE 



WITH EITHER BARREL 




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44 



VARIETY 



MUSIC 



Wednesday, October 7, 1936 



Tokyo Mugg Objectively Analyzes 
Sameness in Songs, Variety in Bands 



By BURTON CRANE 

'What changes, if any, do you see 
in,' New York after an absence of 
eight years?' asked the Variety 
mugg from Tokyo, interviewing the 
"Variety mugg from Tokyo, now in 

'Mighty few,' he replied. . 'There 
are some new buildings for those 
whb like to look out of windows. 
Amusements seem to have oozed a 
bit to the northeast. Taxis have 
lightgd doo'-hickeys on top. You 
have" to go looking for vaude instead 
of having it jump up and bite you— . 
but aside from that, most changes 
have been made in the Orient, as 
well. Japan has kept pace with the 
U. ; S. in lots of ways. The women 
have the same bloody finger-tips and 
wfea? the same clothes. The smart 



i 



THE BEST IN MUSIC 



The next novelty hit of 
the country 




The tune every, leader will 
want to : play 



"Did You 

If f" 





HAHDT li%K C P M< ' 

IRVINC BERLIN 

1<?<7-7imAVl N YC' 




From "Here Comei Cirter" 

THRU THE COURTESY 
OF LOVE 

You oh: My Mind 

My Kingdom for a Kiss 
Papa Tree Top Tall 
Bermuda Buggyride . 
Waltzing with an Angel 
Hors D'Oeuvre 
Tia Juana 

M. WITMARK & SONS 
1250 Sixth Avenue ' ' 
KCA Bldjr., .N. r. 




ffi^J^F MUSICA1 NOV ELT^S' 



Moving Away Up in the ' 
Hit CJaas I 

"SOUTH SEA 
ISLAND MAGIC" 

"I'M ONE STEP AHEAD 
OF MY SHADOW" 

(Excellent Bbythm Tune I— 
flood Lyric I 

For the "Swinger*" — A Grent 
Novelty 

"THE BOSTON 
TEA PARTY" 



Most Requested 



shops in Tokyo run to chromium and 
ornamental bronze just as they do 
on Fifth* avenue. Theatre architec- 
ture is perhaps a bit farther ad- 
vanced in" Japan than here. v 

•But Japan hasn't always beert 
paralleling the United States?* 

'Of course not, but America has 
been more or less marking time 
since 1929, because of the depression. 
I*: Japan' there wasn't/any, ' except 
for a brief period in!031.. That gave 
the Japanese copyists plenty of time 
tb catch up:'' 'T * 

'Are . you trying to say that Japan 
is now on a par wjith the United 
States -in show business?'- 

'Not by a city block. Except for 
a few outstanding exceptions, Jap- 
anese shows are slowly-paced and 
lacking in humor. Few scenes build 
the 4 way they should. Of course, 
since I've been back .I've seen a 
couple of revue-type shows which 
are open to the same criticism, but 
J'rn ' hoping there aren't many of 
'them."'* • . 

'How about pop songs?' 

'America gets 'em by radio. Japan 
gets them from records. That's about' 
the only difference. Recordings 
niade here, have a good sale there. 
.Then, almost any big hit in , this 
country, is translated immediately 
into Japanese and gets still another 
chance at popularity. Japan,' you 
know, is now the greatest market for 
records in the! world* Annual sales 
of the full-sized, full-price' discs are 
something like 10,000,000. Incident- 
ally,- I've brought back home the 
four biggest Japanese hits of "all 
time. One- of them sold 500,000 only 
three or four years ago.' 

'What would sheet music sales be 
on a song like that?' 

'In' Japan the publisher would be 
lucky. to do 50,000. There are few 
pianos. Sheet music, to sell, must 
include special notation- for. the hfj> 
moriica.'' 

'Notice many changes in Ameri- 
can radio?' 

'Practically none — and that goes 
for -11 years; for 1 heard nothing the 
last time I was home. I i\ipp |:e 
there have been technical advances 
put I wouldn't swear I'd noticed 
tl)em. . The principal gain has been 
^ri better, production' of comedy and 
.variety programs. Straight musical 
and lecture periods remain about the 
same,' 

'Been listening to the radio much?* 
'Every night since the ship was 
nine days off the West Coast. By. the 
time we hit San Pedro you could 
have had. .Did I' Remember?' Until 
the Real Thing Comes Along,'' 'I'm 
Not the Kind,' 'Bye Bye, Baby," 
"When -Did You Leave Heaven?,' *A 
Star Fell Out of Heaven,' 'Until To- 
day;'." <Sihg, ; Baby, Sing,' and The 
Way- You -Look- Tonight,' all wrapped 
up in. a mqnogrammed diaper and 
delivered at" your door for a used 
3 c stamp.' ' 

'Don't you think they're good 
tunes?' 

'Sure they're good tunes, but 
everybody . connected, with radio 
music in this country seems to be 
content to work with stuff that's 
been . chewed over so . often that 
there's hb juice left.' 
'What had you expected to find?' . 
'I don't know. I'd figured that, 
since it is so hard for a band to de- 
velop a. distinctive style pf its own, 
smart maestros were using special 
material which could be identified as 
peculiarly theirs, the way Eddie 
Davis, Charlie Wright, Nan Blak- 
stone and Beatrice Lillie do with 
songs, and the way Riley and Farley 
did with 'Music Goes 'Round.' Seems 
funny that they don't.' • - 
'Why?' 

'Most bands sound exactly alike 
and, without some amazingly orig- 
inal soloist such as Goodman, Shaw, 
Freeman, Spanier, Stuff -Smith or 
Waller, . it's v almost impossible for 
them to'sound- any other way. Lom- 
bardo's colorful saxes, Fio- Rito's 
chdppy" phrasing, Osborne's massed 
lunge-irons, Ted Lewis' brass en- 
sembles, the verve of the Hoosier 
Hot-Shots and Noble's musical 
under-statement . have created band 
styles which do not depend on solo- 
ists, but about the only instrumenta- 
tion left which would mark any out- 
fit as . individual would be six dog- 
houses and a piccolo. 

'But maybe I'm wrong about the 
value of . special material as a sub- 
stitute for a completely individual 
style. After all, all I know comes off 
phonograph platters, played 7,500 
miles away.' 



(Reported by Leo Reisman) 
Did I Remember? 
Empty Saddles. 
On the Trail. 

Until Real Thing Comes Along. 

Sing, Baby, Sing. 

A Fine Romance. 

Me and the Moon. 

Until Today. 

When I'm With You. 

You're Not the Kind. 



(Reported by Mario Braggiotti) 

Until Real Thing Comes Along. 

A Fine Romance. 

You Turned Tables on Me. 

Sing, Sing, Sing. 

The Way You Look Tonight. 

When Did You Leave heaven? 

Sing Me a Swing Song. 

If We Never Meet Again* 

Star Fell Out. of Heaven. 

I'm An Old Cowhand. 



(Reported by Benny Goodman, 

Hotel Pennsylvania, N. Y.) 
Until Real Thing Comes Along 
When Did You Leave Heaven? 
Stompin' at Savoy 
In Sentimental Mood 
Bye, Bye; Baby 
Devil rnd Deep Blue Sea 
Hop House 
You're Not the Kind 
I Got Rhythm 
Body and Soul 



(Reported by -Don Bestorj 
Bye, Bye, Baby • 
Star Fell Out of Heaven 
Me and the Moon 
When Did You Leave Heaven? 
Did I Remember? 
No Regrets 
Sing, Sing, Sing 
Empty Saddles 
Until Today 
Fine Romance 



ANN RONELL'S SUIT 
VS. CUFF WHITLEY 



Music Notes 



'Red' Nichols begins personal ap- 
pearances in Washington Oct. 8 for 
one week, thence to Baltimore, for 
a smllar time. Series of one night- 
ers in colleges . follows, three days 
at the University of Virginia where 
he will supply the music for tt|i 
Fall festival which inaugurates the 
sport season. 



Hudson-De Lange band comes into 
town Thursday (8) to record eight 
selections' for the American Record 
Co. Band will return to New Eng- 
land after waxing session. Freddie 
Gibson is the new fern vocalist with 
the unit. 



Joe Relchman 'orchestra set for 
the Mayfafr, Cleveland, Oct. .10, with 
two broadcasts a . week over CBS. 
Reichman band, augmented with a 
brass section, will remain in Cleve- 
land for two weeks and thence to 
the Baker hotel, Dallas, on Nov 1. 



Sammy Stept and Ted Kohler have 
placed 'I'm Mad About; You' in Re- 
public's 'The Big Show.' Other tunes, 
already published, which have been 
bought for pic are 'The Martins and 
the Coys,' 'Nobody's Darlin" and 
''Old Faithful.' 



Josef Zatour doubling from the 
Bowman Room of the Hotel Bilt- 
more, N. Y., into the LaRue, in both 
spots as relief orchestras for the re- 
spective combos — Russ Morgan and 
Eddie Davis. 



BERLIN SCALA'S 
PIT CREW 
SWINGS IT 



Berlin, Sept. 25. ' 

Ousted by the Russian Ballet of 
Col. de Basil, which is booked into 
the Scala. for the first part of Octo- 
ber and requires a much larger or- 
chestra, the Scala pit band under 
Otto Stenzel goes to. the Femina to 
play swing music. Stenzel enjoys 
a reputation for the best local 
rhythm,' and he is changing his ag- 
gregation to please the Femina 
patrons. • 

Vodkaites are getting the 50- 
piece band of the Berlin Landes or- 
chestra, a symphonic band of repute 
otherwise heard only in concert 
halls. 



Dave Gordon, Pacific Coast rep for 
Shapiro, Bernstein & Co., was given 
a five-year contract by the firm 
while in New York last week to at? 
tend the World Series. 



Henry H. Tobias, back around Tin 
Pan Alley placing new song material 
after completing his 10th summer as 
stock producers at Totem Lodge, up- 
state N. Y. resort. 



Clifford Whitley, . British musical 
comedy producer, must come from 
London to be examined before trial 
or suffer judgment for $4,000 in an 
action brought against him by Ann 
Ronell, songwriter, for breach *of 
contract. N. Y. Supreme Court Jus- 
tice Edgar J. Lauer on Thursday (1) 
signed an order directing Whitley's 
appearance. Miss Ronell is sister of 
Sol A. Rosenblatt, former film NRA 
administrator. 

In her complaint, Miss Ronell al 
leges that she entered a contract in 
Los Angeles to compose songs ex- 
clusively for Whitley for eight weeks, 
beginning April 1, 1935, at a salary 
of $500 weekly. She claims the con- 
tract was signed on Whitley's behajf 
by his -business agent, Paul England. 

Before the date to start work, Miss 
Ronell says Whitley called every- 
thing off. The plaintiff now wants 
to find out from Whitley personally 
whether England was authorized to 
act for him. 

His attorney opposed the motion 
on the ground that it was unfair to 
compel the defendant to make the 
trip here in view of the fact that he 
had already denied England was or 
had been his agent. 



Harry Sosnlk becarffe a member 
of ASCAP this we/:. K» latest 
'Rocked in the Cradle of the Blues,' 
being published this week by Mills 
Music. 



Lee Wainer and Lupin Fein, com- 
pose new songwriting team signed by 
Irving Mills for Exclusive Music 
Pair worked on Columbia U. varsity 
shows. , 



Howard LallyV orchestra open at 
Sherry's, N. Y.', via Meyer Davis who 
booked Copley Plaza, Boston, engaged 
Jack Eaves orchestra for the season 
through Meyer Davis office. 



ConsoL Radio Artists 
Opens H wood Offices 



Hollywood, Oct. 6. 
Charles E. Green, president of 
Consolidated ' Radio Artists, Inc., of 
New York, set up offices here this 
week, with Phil Jacks, formerly of 
Pittsburgh, in charge. Green came 

on from Cleveland; where he re* 
cently opened another branch in ad- 
dition to those in Chicago and New 
York. 

Outfit, which took over the Nation 
al Broadcasting Co. bands' bookings 
several months ago, handles Paul 
Whiteman, Russ Morgan, Ferde 
Grofe, Joe Venuti,, Ben Pollack, 
Barney Rapp, Johnny Hamp, King's 
Jesters, Jolly Coburn,' Harry Reser, 
Andy "Santtella, Fletcher Henderson, 
Earl Hines and Don Redman. 



Chicago, Oct. 6. 

.Leo Salkin of the local Consoli- 
dated Radio Artists office has ap- 
pointed Jack Russell to head the 
club booking department. 

Russell is an orchestra leader, hav- 
ing been on NBC hook-up this past 
summer from Vista del Lago. 



Irving Actman and Frank Lesser, 
Universal song writing team, have 
been assigned to -Walter Lantz unit to 
write music and furnish ideas for 
cartoons. 



Bob Crosby opens at the Nicolette 
hotel, Minneapolis, Oct. 7. Glen 
Gray's Casa Loma outfit set for Con- 
gress hotel, Chicago, Oct. 9. Rocke- 
well-O'Keefe agented. . 



Ell Obersteln, Victor recording 
exec, off on an extended waxing trip 
starting Oct. 7.. . Plans taking in the 
south for the new hillbilly platters, 
and thence to the coast. 



Victor Brledles, formerly Ruth 
Etting's conductor and arranger, has 
been signed by Warners as rehearsal 
pianist. - 



Lew Pollack and Sidriey Mitchell 
have penned .'Who's Afraid of Love,' 
which Leah' Ray will sing in 'One in 
a Million' at 20th-Fox. 



Johnny Hauser, formerly a singer 
with Paul Whiteman's band, has or- 
ganized his own orchestra. 



Nano Rodrlgo contracted with 
Feist to publish his new tango, 
'Linda.' 



L. Wolfe Gilbert, who has gone 
publisher, is due in New York from 
Hollywood late in October. 

Lee Bennett, former vocalist with 
the Jan Garber band, has organized 
his own orchestra. 



Aaron Gonzales and Carlos Ruffino 
making series of transcriptions for 
Standard Radio. 



Jean Vickers has joined the Louisi- 
ana Kings orchestra for its slated 
southern tour. 



Eric Peterson's band set for fall at 
Leightbn's Halfway House, Darien, 
Conn, 



Himber with MCA 



Richard Himber has gone under 
Music Corp. of America direction 
and is slated for the Hotel Waldorf- 
Astoria, N. Y.-, later in-ihe winter, 
succeeding Hotcha Gardner's band, 
which opens Oct. 28 with Veloza 
and Yolanda and Eve Symington. 

Gardner is a new maestro, one of 
George Olsen's former featured 
members. 



on WRITE 




The Marks Hit 
Parade 

RUNNING A 
TEMPERATURE 




"Presents 



CLOSE TO ME 

< Definitely 

the Next Big Waltz Hit) 



LOVE— WHAT ARE YOU 
DOING TO MY HEART 

(European Hit) • 



T. B. HARMS CO. 
1250 Slxtll Ave. 
BCA Bid*., N. X. 



NEW HITS featured In the 
20th Century-Fox College 

Musical 
"PIGSKIN PARADE" 



"IT'S LOVE I'M AFTER" 
"YOU DO THE DARN'DEST 

THINGS, BABY" 
"YOU'RE SLIGHTLY TER- 
RIFIC" 
"THE BALBOA" 
"PIG8KIN PAf.ADE FOOT- 
BALL MEDLEY" 



If MOVIETONE "1 
MUSIC CORPORATION 

SAM l-OK PUBLISHING CG .Sr.lr A 9 f« 



I2SO SIXTH AVENUE 
■w NEW YORK 



Wednesday, October 7, 1936 



MUSIC 



VARIETY 



45 



Ballads, Torches, Swing Tunes May 
Be the Next Thing in Madam's Dresses 



Women's dressed -wall-paper, car 
jets and linoleum will serve as the 
inspiration source for melody if the 
manufacturers of these products be- 
come' parties to the copyright licens- 
ing deal which was closed last week 
-between John G. Paine, as trustee 
for music publishers, and Byron G, 
Moon, head of the advertising agency 
of the same name. The contract 
gives Moon the exclusive rights to 
the music . industry's latest possible 
source of by-product income. 

Originator of the idea thai Moon 
has set out to promote Is a textile 
designer, X/lrs. Jean Arnold. She be 
lieves that by putting certain designs 
in the right progression on a. piece 
of textile or wall-paper it is .pos 
sible to- create the same melodic 
reading as would be had from a 
sheet , of musical manuscript. , The 
tipoff to the tune would be in the 
design's 'tnotif-. and. . all that would 
be necessary tbf interpret the melody 
is a rudimentary ability to read 
music. J 

For -every tune that Moon converts 
'Into .a 'design; he will pay the copy- 
. right owner 10%. of the gross royal- 
ties he 'collects from the manufac- 
turers. If a design embodying the 
theme, Tm Forever Blowing Bub- 
bles' brings him $10,000 ior its use 
In dress goods, and wall-paper, the 
publisher controlling the tune will 
3et $1,000. Moon also assumes the 
expense tof . prosecuting any manu- 
facturer who adopts the idfea without 
■' trst obtaining the required musical 
license. , . lif the event * manufac-' 
furer t contends that a copyright 
owner has no property Tight in a 
musical theme which has been made 
i part of a textile or other kind, of 
design, it is ,up to Moon to shoulder 



Hemitk 

'Presents 

From "Culu and Mabel" 

I'LL SING YOU A THOU- 
SAND LOVE SONGS 

CONEY ISLAND 

e 

BOY MEETS GIRL 
SING A SONG OF NON- 
SENSE. 

DON'T KISS. ME GOOD- 
NIGHT 

REMICK, MUSIC CORP. 
1260 Sixth Avenue 
BCA Bldf., N. X. 



FLASHES 



ANNOUNCING 

The New Song Sensation 

'THE WORLD 
IS MINE 

(Tonight) 



Featured by Nino Martini In 
the. Plokford-taflky Production 
THE GAY BKSrKRADO" 
A United Artists Aeleam 



SAM FOX 

PUBLISHING COMPANY 

I 3 SO SIXTH AYEMUt 
OCA BUILDING RAOIO CITt 
New YORK 



the entire costs of taking the issue 
through the courts. 

An illustration as to how Moon 
intends to develop his rhythmic de- 
signs follows: If the tune selected is 
Sailing, Sailing,* and the use of it 
is as wall-paper, the design will be 
that of a sailboat race, with the ships 
placed in the same relation to each 
other as one note would be to an- 
other were the same melody ex- 
pressed on a sheet of paper. 

The Moon agency is responsible 
for the exploitation, of the sanforiz- 
ing device in the textile field. This 
method of treating cloth is bringing 
Qluett-Peabody, which owns the 
patent, over $1,000,000 a year in 
royalties. 



CAMPBELL OUT 
OF LONDON C-C 



London, Oct. 6. 
Jimmy ; Campbell bows out of 
Campbell, Connelly & Co. as of last 
Saturday (3), when the contracts 
were formally signatured. Reg Con- 
nelly continues operating C-C ex- 
clusively. , 

Campbell, in turn, concentrates 
solely on Cinephonic 'Music Corp., 
which now, as heretofore, continues 
as a Gaumont-British music pub- 
lishing subsidiary, only that C-C 
will not be interested in if as a 
firm. Jimmy Campbell will become 
sole "'managing director of' Cine- 
phonic and concentrate on its oper- 
ations which has been the case the 
past year or more. 

He is again en route to America 
on an exploitation campaign on be- 
half of G-B fllmusicals. He left yes- 
terday (Monday) from Germany via 
the zepp. 

Irwin Dash Music Co., subsidiary 
of C-C, headed by the American 
music man, Dash, will continue as 
such, being a separate entity and 
clicking of -late, sans any fllmusical 
affiliations. Both Campbell and Con- 
nelly are co-directors with Dash in 
the outfit 



Jimmy McHugh's Bro. 
Seeks Mass. Senatorship 

Songwriter Jimmy McHugh's 
brother; Representative Lawrence 
McHugh <Dem) of Boston, is now 
running for state senator from his 
district. 

McHugh is east in between Uni- 
versal songwriting chores, having 
just completed 'Top o' the Town' 
and gets the 'Hippodrome' tune- 
smithing assignment next with 
Harold Adamson, his new pard. Re- 
turns to Hollywood next week to 
start on call Oct. 19. 



"Remember' Song Denial 



Attorneys for. Metro and Leo 
Feist, Iiic, have filed general denials 
in N. Y. federal court to claim of 
Harms, Inc., for an injunction and 
accounting of profits on the picture 
'Suzy,' Harms alleges infringement 
of the musical hit of the film, 'Did 
I. Remember.' 

Defendants' answer admits exploit 
ing the song, but both claim cer- 
tain rights to it obtained from Har- 
old Adamson and Walter Donaldson, 
who composed the lyric and music. 



Most Played on Air 

To familiarize the trade with 
the tunes most on the air 
around New York, the follow- 
ing song* were most played on 
the networks last- week. Com- 
bined plugs on WEAF, WJZ 
and WABC are computed for 
the week from Sunday through 
Saturday night (Sept. 27-Oct. 
3). . 

When Bid Ton Leave Heaven? 

Bid I Remember? 

Way Ton Look ' Tonight 

Who Loves Ton? 

Bye Bye Baby • ■ ■ . . 

Until Real Thing Comes Along. 

Sing, Baby, Sing 

I Can't Escape From Ton 

Star Fell Oat of Heaven 

Until Today • 

Me and ihejMoon 

Mickey Mo(se Birthday 

I'm an Old Cowhand 

It Can Happen to Ton 

A Fine Boaaanee 

When I'm With Ton 

If We Never Meet Again 

Midnight Bines 

When Lady Meets Gentleman 

Organ Grinder's Swing 

Tou're Not the Kind . 

High Hat, Piccolo, Cane 

You Turned the Tables 

Sing 1,000 Love Songs 

There Goes My Attraction 





FI N D LITTLE 
BRIBERY 



Fredda Gibson new vocalist with 
Hudson-De Lange orchestra. Band is 
currently at Raymore Club, Boston. 



The new season ushers in an array of song hits that, from present 
- indications, will sweep the nation. For instance: 

"WHEN DID YOU LEAVE HEAVEN?" 

from the Dnrryl ZunucJc «0t!i Ccntary-Fox production, "Sing. Baby. Sing" 

"WHEN I'M WITH YOU" — "DREAM AWHILE" 

Announcing tlie 1 reigning sonp lilt in Engiuihl 1«<Jh;f, 

"SWEETHEART LET'S GROW OLD TOGETHER" 



"MIDNIGHT BLUE" 

The Big Bong hit of tbo new 
"Zlcgfcld FoJJies of 103G" 

BOBBINS MUSIC CORP. • 709 7th AVE. • NEW YORK 



A new tongue twlxter novelty song 

"PETER PIPER" 



Investigators for the Music Pub- 
lishers Protective Association re- 
ported to John G. Paine, chairman, 
last week, that they have found 
practically complete observation of 
the publishers' pledge against paying 
off for plugs. There have been, it 
was pointed out, some slips, but none 
of these have been of major im- 
portance. Investigators also turned 
in a list of certain orchestra leaders 
who are holding out against playing 
current releases unless they are paid 
$25 in advance for each arrangement. 
- Whatever complaints have been 
received by the MPPA concerning 
violations of the code, Paine said 
last week, reflected a lack of clarity 
in the interpretation of certain pro- 
visions. At a meeting of the MPPA 
board last Thursday (1), it was de- 
cided to advise the pledge's co-sig- 
nators by circular letter that stock 
clerks must be warned against giv- 
ing band arrangers supplies of 
manuscript paper. Also that it would 
be okay for a publisher to furnish 
vocal arrangements to trios and 
quartets, providing that such ar- 
rangements were to be treated as 
,stock arrangements. Under this pro- 
vision, a publisher is not obligated 
to have a vocal arrangement printed. 
His copyist may turn out as many 
copies of the same arrangement as 
there are calls for it, but in no case 
may there be more than one ar- 
rangement of the same number. 

CANAVAN DROPS OUT 
OF 802 PREXY RACE 

Edward F. Canavan, president of 
the New York Musicians Local 802, 
will not run for a second term when 
the union holds its elections in De- 
cember. His withdrawal leaves Jcok 
Rosenberg and Zelig Liese as the 
only known candidates for the job. 

Canavan got the post two years 
ago through appointment by Joseph 
N. Weber, American Federation of 
Musicians prez. 



Montgomery Ward Buys 
750,000 Victor Disks 



Probably a record order from a 
single account is the 750,000 disks 
which RCA Victor must supply 
Montgomery Ward's mail order 
house between now and the first of 
the year at the 15-lCc. wholesale 
price, and which M-W releases un- 
der its own trade name of Ward's. 

The disks are the Victor com- 
pany's Blue Bird recordings, and 
chiefly hillbilly and old-time tunes. 



MPPAs Importance in Music Biz 
Crows; Propose McKee as Att'y 



Joseph V. McKee is being favor- 
ably considered as the next general 
counsel for the Music Publishers 
Protective Association. Growing im- 
portance of the MPPA as the indus- 
try's trade body, as distinguished 
from the performing rights collec- 
tions function of the American So- 
ciety of Composers, Authors and 
publishers, has largely motivated the 
proposal of the McKee name; Mc- 
Kee's standing as a trade association 
lawyer would be fortified by his 
political connections in Washington 
and as former President of the Board 
of Alderman of the City of New 
York and its pro-tem mayor. 

At a meeting of the MPPA di- 
rectorate Monday (5) the McKee 
candidacy was thoroughly discussed 
but it was decided that there were 
not enough facts at hand regarding 
McKee's legal background " for • the 
board to act. In looking around for 
a successor to Francis- Gilbert, who 
has been chief counsel to the MPPA 
for over eight years, the associa- 
tions' directors are proceeding on the 
theory that they could get farther 
in bringing about , harmony and 
unity in the music industry if . the 
MPPA's legal headman didn't repre- 
sent individual publishers. The 
MPPA directors figure also that such 
indie counsel wouldn't have his 
views or judgment . colored by bis 
interest in various clients, Gilbert 
& Gilbert law firm has several music 
pub clients.. 

John. G. Paine continues as chair- 
man, of the . board of the MPPA, a 
post a'nalagous to E. C. Mills' at 
ASCAP.. 

With the MPPA now functioning 
over, transcriptions, recordings, syn- 
chronizations and, already talking up 
television, the former rather passive 
body now recognizes that like every 
other industry a trade code is neces- 
sary to stop cut-throat competition: 
3 Pubs Oppose Code 

The proposed tabu on no payment 
for plugs, no special arrangements, 
etc., 'has brought three major music 
men into the open as being opposed 
to the strict ruling. Two of the three 
are frankly non-Hollywood affiliates 
and the other has an off-and-on tie- 
in wilh pictures. These publishers 
argue that the film music firms have 
a great advantage on song exploita- 
tion through the songs being given 
a natural impetus from the screen, 
to compel their playing by bands 
and usage by singers; that the non- 
film music firms ■ therefore need 
every other advantage to get plugs, 
such; as making a special arrange- 
ment for any worthwhile radio com- 
mercial. 

The Hollywood music firms have 
an equally good rebuttal that since 
the pjclure biz looks down on Tin 



PHIL KORNH'SER 





Phil Kornheiser has resigned as 
general professional manager of 
Popular Melodies, Inc., a subsid of 
Famous Music Corp., which, in turn, 
is allied with Paramount Pictures. 
Kornheiser is mulling one of several 
propositions. 

Unlike Famous' direct filmusical 
tie-in with Par, Popular Melodies 
didn't enjoy the cinematic hookup or 
•catalog, being more or" less a 
straight 'popular' house. Firm was 
formed about a year ago with Kom 
heiser in professional charge from 
the start, idea being to build up the 
subsid's rating in ASCAP, which has 
been achieved through multiple air 
performances, etc. 

Tubby Garron ha3 been brought 
in from Chicago to succeed Korn- 
heiser. 



Pan,, Alley, and regards the music 
adjunct merely for exploitive pur- 
poses, it would warrant the film 
companies to subsidize bands with 
cash as well as special arrangements, 
and yet they're willing to sign a 
code against paying for ..plugs. Thus 
the situation now stands. 

Radio Pings 

Directors of the MPPA last ( week 
ratified the committee which John 
G. Paine, chairman, had picked to 
study 'the proposition of the MPPA 
financing its own- checking service 
on radio plugs. Committee consists 
of Louis Bernstein, Walter Douglas,.,'?* 
Sam Fox, Edward B. Marks and \ 
Lester Santly. 

Predominating opinion in the as- 
sociation takes the view that if 
checking of daily air performances 
is to become an industry operation, 
an effort should be made to take 
over the existing services,' instead of 
setting up a competitive situation. 
Such move would entail entering 
into . a financial arrangement with 
the Accurate . Reporting ' Service, 
controlled by Martin Alexander, in 
New York, and the kindred project 
which caters to the publishing trade ' 
in Chicago. . . 

Those advocating . the MPPA opk 
eration of a plug compilation service 
contend . that 'as an industry con- . 
trolled thing its functions could ibi 
extended and, since it would be op- 
erated -for' no profit, the lees would 
be considerably lower than they .are 
now and the number of subscribers 
increased. This faction also hofds . 
that the time :has come when the -in- 
dustry should, if it can render Jhe 
same service, take over all enter- 
prises which cater to the music pub- 
lishing business at a profit. It has 
not been made clear whether this in* 
eludes setting up co-operate sheet 
publishing plants. ■" .V. 



•i 

'Presents 

JFrom "Stoxe Struck" 

Fancy meeting You 
In Your Own Quiet Way 

From "Gum of the Pecos" 

The Prairie Is My Home 

From "White Horse Inn" 

Blue Eyes 
White Horse Inn 
I Cannot Live Without 
Your Love 



Half of Me 



HARMS, .Inc. 
1850 Sixth Ave. 
BCA Bids-., N. I. 



5A« T . l JoY 



It's a Bl* Hit— 
Hie Beqaert Sonjrl 

"ME AND THE 
MOON " 

Sow Beady— The Beantlful 
Theme of Hawaii. 

"TO YOU SWEET- 
HEAR T, ALOHA" 

Cote — Fresh— Appealing 
Rhythm Novelty 

"OH, YOU ROGUE 

(\OV MO LE MY UEABT'I 
The 'Swing?' Sfopaa Novell; 

"OVER A BOWL OF 
SUKLYAKT' 



SANTLY BROS -JOY.Inc 

IfclQ BROADWAY ^N-V-C 



Tried and proven songs of the season. All Included In a catalog 
that comprises one of the most "sure -fire" song galaxies of all' 
time. For example: 

"DID I REMEMBER?" 
"I'M AN OLD COWHAND (From the Rio Grande)" 
"TO MARY— WITH LOVE" 
"IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU" 
"PICTURE ME WITHOUT YOU" 

(From tlie picture, "Dimples," starring (Shirley Temple) 

LEO FEIST, Inc. • 1629 BROADWAY • NEW YORK 



a 



VAUDE-NIYE CLUBS 



Wednesday, October 7, 1936 



CHI VARIETY IS MOSTLY IN NITE CLUBS; 




Impressive Array of Vaudeville Acts-^Managerial 
Yen to Reinstate .Couvert Charges Prompts 'Em 
to Line Up Strong Shows 



.-' Chicago, Oct. 6. 
• Greatest array of talent booked 
into, the local niteries for the open- 
ing of the new season is additional 
evidence that the "niteries have" taken 
.the place of the theatres as the" va- 
riety time of today. 
■ '• With the agreement among hotel 

^fcafes to institute 'cover charges, the 

■ hotels have decided that they have 
to give the. .public something for that 
down ..payment and - they have 

. jumped into variety entertainment 
with; both feet; tybt only" are they 
combing the regular domestic mar- 
ket for talent, .but are. even turning 
*to Europe, and through the estab- 
lished talent, agencies are bringing 
in a large number of. foreto novelty. 

: acts. With the nite. clubs ar out- 
let, it marks .'the first 'time that the 

' Euri>peaiv acts . are finding a real' 
change to earn coin in this country 
since vaude- started its decline six. 
years ."age. . .. . 
" Show set for the .College Inn, 
Hotel .Sherman, which/ opens late 
this .month, reads like, a regular va* 
riety bill of .1928. On . the . bill are 
Gertrude .Hoffman girls, Calgary 
Bros., Speck'and Spot, the Nagfysl 
Rufe. Davis, Howard the. Hoop- 
Thrower, . Four Southland . Rhythm. 
Girls, Harriet DeGoff, .Miss America 
of 1936 and the. f our . runhers-up. 
Also -will use ' four . regular circus 
clowns. Plus the Roger Fryor or-, 
chestra. 

This show tops the.brdinary vaude- 
ville, bill presented at the theatres 
in. Chicago; nowadays, So much so 
that vaude houses hereabouts are 
talking of stepping up their own 



stage shows to .meet . this nite club 
competition. 

At the new Urban Room of the 
Congress the show; opening on Oct. 
11 will be headed by Connie. Boswell, 
Two Eileens, Embassy Fenny , with 
Enrico and Novello as dancers. Plus 
two acts to fill, one of which will be 
comedy,, and Casa Loma orchestra. - 

Georges and Jalha, who bowed put 
of the Empire Room of the Palmer 
House because of -a billing squabble; 
will top the show at the Mayfair 
R*iom of the Blackstone starting Oct. 
23.. Others on the bill are Corinna 
Mura and Ethel Dixon, .with the Al 
Kavelin orchestra on-the bandstand. 

. Blackhawk has always gone. along 
on -a minimum of . talent, but this 
year' is : spreading^.on. its floor show, 
With Romo Vincent, Billy and Ruth 
Ambrose; Jerme • and ■ Louis Prima's 
orchestra. 

- Drake hotel has Roy Campbell's 
Royalists, Gower and Jean, Pat 
OMalley and Dick Jergens'. orches- 
tra; Stevehs>has Gary Leon and Mar- 
cia Mace, Serge- Picar . and Xavier 
Gugat's orchestra. Keller. > Sisters 
and, Lynch head the "show at the 
Yacht Qlub; Bernard and Henri top 
the new bill at the ^Alabam; Jimmy 
Savo, Georges Metaxa, - Readinger 
Twins, Stewart -Morgan Dancers 
make up the variety end of . the Chez 
Paree show 'with the Henry- Busse 
Orchestra; Ted- and Mary Taft,- Four 
McNallie Sisters, Bert Granoff, Gret- 
chert Lee and -the . Phil -Levant or- 
chestra at the Bismarck^ Dick and 
Edith Barstow, . Five Wonder Girls 
are the- type of standard vaude acts 
the Edgewater Beach is using. 



He's Been Too Nice 



The other 'night' one of the 
most successful cabaret operas 
tors in New . York asked his 
legal advisor, in all seriousness, 
'What do" you think we ought to- 
do in the new' spot (which he's 
building); treat- 'em polite" as 
we've been doing here or make • 
it real tough? s 

That Blank club and John 
Wh'oozis' joint down the street 
insult . 'em and have the .meaner 
est bunch of captVins. at the 
door, and I'll be a sunofagun if 
they don't make 'em like it. 
They give the chumps nothing 
and the take . is $2,000 a day 
average. . 

'So maybe . we've been top 
darn nice to the suckers.'. 



Ethel Shutta Resting 
Before Again Soloing 



Ethel Shutta (Mrs.. George Olseh) 
is slated for either the Paradise or 
the Versailles niteries in New . York 
in a. month ,or .two. 

Songstress must first take a 
month's vacation since quitting as. a 
member of her husband's orchestral, 
organization; Latter opened this 
week .at the Gibson hotel, Cincin- 
nati, with- a new band under : him,, 
formerly the late Orville Knapp's 
organization. 



-3, 



Mickey Mouse Stage 
Unit Talked With 
Singer Midget Aid 



Los Angeies, Oct. 6. 
Mickey Mouse and his contingent 
of friends are being set for a twirl 
on the stage. M.D. (Doc) Howe, for- 
merly of Fanchon & Marco's book- 
ing, office, is arranging with Walt 
Disney, to stage the flesh - shows ir 
indie houses. • 

. Leo Singer, now, ill in San Diego. 
Is being contacted tb provide a' group 
of Singer Midgets.for the trick. 
. Those, involved 'in show, are con- 
templating giving it-plenty of enter- 
tainment value as, direct competish 
for established .film theatre flesh 
spots. . • . . . 



0PP0SISH IN AKRON 



Loew's . 1st Vaude in a Tear — Ted 
Letyls . vs. 'Folic Parlslenne' 



Former Greenwich Village Inn, 
now the Village Casino, opens to- 
night (Wednesday) with floorshows 
to be changed' twice monthly. 



• Akron,. Oct. 6. 
- First major downtown stage- op- 
position in several -years -hits town 
Friday. (9)- when Loew's and the 
Palace will offer .units in- addition 
to the . regular film programs. It 
will be the .first stage for Loew's in 
more than a. year. 

Ted Lewis opens at the Palace for 
four days, coming, in from Mayfair 
Casino, Cleveland. Loew's, for a full 
week, against' Lewis "at- the Palace, 
has -'Folie- Parjsipnne,' also * coming 
from Cleveland. 



Marcus Show in Chi 

Oriental for $5,000 

Chicago, Oct: 6. ' 

A. B. Marcus show, returning to 
the midwest after -nearly a year's 
absence, is booked for the Balabah & 
Katz Oriental Oct. 30. ' 

Price reported at $5,000. 




he THEATRE of the STARS 




BOOKING AGENCY 

GENERAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES 

LOEWBLDG. ANNEX 

160 WEST 46™ ST. NEW YORK 
diyahi 9-7800 



Chi's . Congress Hotel 
Changing Nitery Tag 

• Chicago,' Oct. 6. 
It has been decided to open the 
new Congress hotel nitery under a 
new tag. Formerly known as the 
Urban Room, it will . relight next 
week as the Casino. New ' room is 
nearly tvyice as large as the former 
Urban Room. . ' ' 

Howard Hohl, p.a. of the Ralph 
Hitz hotel organization in New York, 
arrived .in town to join local p.a. 
Renee "Howard on the publicity. 



$35,000 Hollyhock Garden 
Fire Under Investigation 

Warren, Oj, : Oct 6. 
A $35,000 Are swept the lower floor 
of the. Hollyhock Gardens', which 
had been dark since last fall. Fire 
department officials reported the fire 
started from ,oil-soaked rags, and are 
investigating. They; had a .' report 
that a man had been .seen running 
from the building shortly before ah 
explosion started the flre\ ' 
. The . spot, until last spring, had 
been operated by Jim Muhse'ne of 
Cleveland. • Plans were .under., way 
to reopen the club next, month. 

Sarah Churchill's 
Double Act with Vic 
Oliver on B^ay, $1,500 

Sarah Churchill, daughter of Eng- 
land's one-time Prime Minister, and 
her. fiance, Vic Oliver, standard 
vaude single, have been booked into 
Loew's State, N. Y., opening Friday 
(9). Pair are currently , at Keith's, 
Boston (Miss Churchill's first theatre 
date in the U. S.), but aren't drawing 
any biz. . ' 

Miss Churchill, according, to the 
Simon . agency, .will not draw any 
salary for the State engagement. 
Oliver, however, whose previous 
salary at the State was $575, will get 
$1,500. Probable that this salary is 
for the team, though, with Miss 
Churchill wanting to keep her earn- 
ings secret for unknown reasons. - 
- In England, Miss- Churchill worked 
as a chorine. She came over here a 
couple of weeks . ago with the 
avowed intention of marrying Oliver, 
.against the vigorous objections from 
her socially and politically promi- 
nent English family. ■ 



Network Sponsors 



(Continued from page 43) 



Vaude Out for 'Zieggy/ 
Then Doubles, at Marbro 

Chicago, Oct; 8. . 
. Balaban & Katz's Marbro drops 
vaude temporarily Friday (9) be- 
cause of 'Great Ziegfeld' (MG). 

Vaude has been on a week-to-week 
at the Marbro. for some time in 
anticipation of a switch to double 
features. According ' to present 
plans, twin bills will go into effect 
the first week in November. 



EDDIE MEYERS. WEST 

Hollywood, Oct. 6. 
Edwin Meyers, New York agent, is 
due here Oct.' 15 to become' asso- 
ciated with his brother in the 
Kingston-Meyers agency. ' 

Meyers, prior to establishing his 
Broadway office, was associated with 
the William Morris office. 



Nancy Noland 
Com. Frank Hawks 
Allan Joslyn 
Ml.lt. Rittenberg Or 
HKAI.TII . 
PRODUCTS 
6 |>.m.-Sun-WOR. 
'Amnteur, Night' 

Benny Rubin 
Arnold Johnson Oi 
'Woi. Esly r 

I.K11N * FINK 
1 p.ni.-M' to F- 
W'GN 

'Life of Alary 

Solhern' 
.Mlnabelle Abbott 
"Lennen & Mltcnell 

-L-OCAL DEPART- 
MENT STORE 
• 9- ii.m.-Thur-WOR ■ 

'Mornlnp: Matinee' 
Al Goodmav 
Dorothy Mackalll ' 
Bortlna Foltis 
James Hall 
•Dorlanrt 

T,ITHERAN 
l-4:30-3u-WT.W 
•Kelly Stahlman 

McFADDEN PUHS. 
10 n.m.-Tu-WOR 

Bernarr Marfadden 
♦Lennen &. Mitchell 

0:S0-Tu-WI.W. 

'True Deti'ctlve' 
Mysteries' 
MKXKEN 
10-Mon-WOR 

'Famous Jury 

Trials' 
Harold Cai-r 



Eileen Palmer 
Sidney Skm 
Lutse Squire 
Rlltel Kent 
Franklin Blngman 
Don Morrison 
Louis 'Levy 
Chas Dohenty 
Bess McCanimon 
Harry. Lang 
Richard Keith 
•Kies wetter 

SSS CO. 
(SSM- Tnnir) 
8!30-W-WMV 
'The Alnslo Box* 
Gills Frakes ■ 
Harold Carr 
Nina Paisley ' 
V Maruccl Oro ' 
*Johnf>nn-DalHa 
• SQfl.tD 
(Tooth t>nwd««r> . 
10:30 n.n>,-,M-W F- 

WiW 
'< ale'nflar Mclo-.dy' 
Raa Oler.»dorf -. 
Leonard .Tqv Ore' 
•Gpycr, C. & N. 
WANDER CO. 

'OvnlMn.N 

3-M to F-WflN 
'Molly of Movies' • 
Ray Jones 
Henrietta Tedroe 
Catherine Cnmnbell 
Jeanne Juveller 
fClrny Haw lie 
riene Dyrnn 

•WASEV I'ROD, 
3 n.»»i.-7:S0 n.m.- 
Sun-Mnn-Tn-Weil-'' 
Frl-WOR 

J" cob Tarshlsh 
"r-hp Lamplighter* 
•I3r\vln Wosey 




Warners-Musicians 
Widens; Union May Ask AFL Help 



J . H . L U B IN 

GENERAL MA NAGER -> 

SIDNEY H. PIERMONT 

BOOKING MANAGER 



Philadelphia, Oct. 6. 

Parley between musicians' union 
and Warners today adjourned with- 
out reaching an agreement. Union 
officials, following adjournment, an- 
nounced they would picket all 
Warner Bros, houses in Philadelphia, 
and if necessary" they would attempt 
to pull out union projectionists and 
other American Federation of Labor 
members. They made it plain that 
they would seek the co-operation 
oi other unions 'only as a last resort. 

The musicians' union' is standing 
pat on demands for two days of 
work in nabe hbuses, but announced 
willipgness to reduce number of men 
in pits for these theatres if granted 
this, 'point. 

The deadlock between the man- 
agement and. musicians' union irre- 
sponsible' for abandonment of the 
Stage ^policy both 'at the Earle and 
fox. < 



Latter house was recently taken 
over by Warners. 

. Previously the Warner executives 
refused to meet with the union. As 
a result of this attitude, Local 77 
brought the matter to the attention 
of .the Mayor's Labor Board, which 
has acted unofficially thus far. 

It is understood, this' board 
pointed out, that unless the dispute 
was settled, other locals ■ of the 
American Federation of Labor might 
join the musicians, tying up theatres 
via projectionists, etc. 

Principal difference between War- 
ners and the musicians' local does 
not involve the Earle but neighbor- 
hood theatres playing vaudeville. 
The local wants its members em- 
ployed- two days per week instead 
of one. It also seeks the addition 
of one man at the Roosevelt, Frank- 
ford and Nixon theatres. Further 
demands include use of five men at 
the Oxford and a separate band at 
the Tower. ' 




N. Y. 
WARBLERS IN 
AGAIN 



■ It'll be another, socialite songstress 
battle, in New York this fall. ' 
. .Eve. Symington, Senator Wads- 
worth's '. daughter, returns' to the 
field, at the Waldorf-Astoria the end 
of. this month. .Meantime the Hotel 
St., Regis' former King Cole room, 
redecorated into the Iridium, gets 
the jump by booking in Mrs. Alex- 
ander Cochrane .Forbes, the former 
Irene Helen (Sunny) Robbins. It's 
her . a professional debut. Mrs. 
Forbes is. the daughter of ' the late 
Warren Delano Robbins and related 
to .President Roosevelt.' . ." 

. Miss -Robbins is in her early. 20's 
and one of the few s.a. socialites in 
the nitery belt. While it's her sing- 
ing, debut with Emil Coleman's or- 
chestra, she's a standard cigaret ad 
and couturier's model.- . 

Other nite club chanteuses from 
the Park ave. belt in the N. Y. nite 
spots ini the past two years have been 
Virginia Uppercu, Timmie Dobbin, 
Helen Dudley Curran, Florence 
Weicker, . Christiana Torlonia (Mrs. 
Daniel Lord), Sara Churchill, Addie 
Moffett, Lois , Elliman, Gay. Adams, 
"Marjory Logan, Mrs.. William K. 
Stewart, Jr. 



■ ■ Washington,. Oct. 6. 

Latest recruit to nitery entertain- 
ment field- from .a social register is 
'Sunny' Robbins (Mrs.- Alexander 
Cochrane Forbes), who bowed in 
last Friday. (2) in cocktail lounge 
of Washington's Mayflower hotel. 

Three weeks ago Mrs. Forbes ap- 
peared on ~ Bowes program as an 
ether amateur, and the p.a.'s of 
period certainly missed a swell stab 
of publicity when they did not learn 
that the singer is related to Presi« 
dent Roosevelt, her late father, War- 
ren Delano Robbins, having been 
a second cousin of F. D, R. Under- 
stood that Mrs. Forbes did not let 
a leak on her relationship to' the 
Prez, and will not trride on it dur- 
ing' professional career. 

N. Y." will get a peek at the song- 
stress Oct. 14, when she will appear 
at the benefit for Musicians' Emer- 
gency Fund at opening of the new 
Iridium Room df. St, Regis hotel. 
Mrs. Forbes was asked to appear 
by her friend,. Mrs. Vincent Aston 



Maestro No-Like Road, 
Opening Own Nitery 

Kansas City, Oct. 6. 
• Buddy Fisher late this month will 
open a night spot in the old Gaiety 
theatre building to be known as 
•Buddy Fisher's.' Band leader says 
he's had enough of the road\ 

Fisher is buzzing with plenty of 
other ideas, among them an agency, 
publicity bureau and a music school. 
Irving Burns is associated with 
Fisher. 



Saranac Lake 

By Happy Benway 



Beatrice Lee took the 'nerve' op 
to a nice comeback. Bryan Tracy, 
box office rmigg,. sat through the 
neumolisis thing to good results. 
Garry Sidgreaves, Brooklyn mana- 
ger, knocked the second stage of the 
'riB' 
oke. 



cut for the full count; he's also 



Camile Carpentier, who did a va- 
cash ozoning here, about ready to 
RKO Boston theatre-it," leaving this 
hard winter stuff behind. 

Jack Hirsch, Boston and New 
York first-nighter, who has done so 
much for the theatrical ozoners, here 
handing out h»ji'dful of cheerfulness. 
• First snow hit us, and uppers are 
now hitting the bed routine, meaning 
flannels, double socks, woolen pa- 
jamas and bath robes, electric pads, 
heavy woolen, blankets and more 
woolen blankets. Man, it's cold. 

Jerry Vogel candies the showfolks 
up here semi-monthly. The gang ap- 
preciates it. 

Murray Salet all broken up over 
the killing of his pet pup by a truck. 



Besser in Unit 

Joe Besser is ah added starter for 
the 'Centennial Follies,' RKO re- 
questing him to bolster the unit's 
comedy. 

■Besser joins the unit Friday (9) in 
Troy, split week, with Schenectady 
to follow. 



Wednesday, October 7, 1936 



VAUDE-NITE CLUBS 



VARIETY 



47 






Musicians' Hitch Nulls Chances 
Of Loews Vaude Return in Balto 



Baltimore, Oct. 6. 
Begins to appear as if Loew's 

_ Century will not resume stage- 

■^"dio'ws. When house, after lengthy 
status as vaudfllmer, went straight- 
pix Sept. 4, it was with the intention 
of reinserting flesh after playing off 

; 'some strong film, product . stored up. 
Local Musicians' Union No. 40 • of- 

1 fered at' that time as a new season's 
• contract terms dated from time the- 
atre "dropped" pit band along with 
stagenshows, I.e., demanded retro- 
active* pay for musikers . for layoff 
time -when they returned to work. 
Century balked and' signatured -no 
contract for this season. 

Situation hung until past weekend, 
when Century figured on bringing 
in three consecutive weeks of vaude, 
commencing Oct. 16, to tide over 
succession of films house thought 
needed bolstering. Bill Saxton, local 
Loew city, manager, inquired at 
union whether he could get ok to use 
pit band on a week-to-week basis, 
but. union nixed, proffering only a 
full-year contract. In proffered 
contract* however, union did. not 
seek layoff-time payment to mem- 
bers of theatre's former crew, 
merely straight scale from time they 
commenced working again. Saxton 
refused these terms, saying only 
agreement Century would consent to 
was the on-call ..arrangement. 

Union apparently has classed the 
Century in strange position, although 

• house broke no rules when it let go 

. the musicians last month, abiding* by 
the .two-weeks' notice order to the 
letter and notifying its 'pit band just 
14 days before the. '36-'37 season 
contract, was to have been . signed. 
The, 11. musicians are currently 
drawing 'strike' salaries, first time 
for such a situation in Balto. Union 
bosses will not let 'em accept any 
other jobs for a. reason -union will 
not clarify. 

At time band was dropped, house 
wanted to keep organist Harvey 
Hammond, who was getting -$200 a 
week, with his relief man snagging 
scale rate at $75, but union ordered 
Hammond out and he went along 
with relief. Century will resume its 
Saturday a.m. free dance classes for 

'kids this week, which, conducted by 
Laureine Bac (Mrs. Bill Saxton), re- 
quire a pianist. Has been decided 

. over weekend to' switch these to the 
Valencia, Loew subsequent-runner, 
and union has not as yet boycotted 
spot on request for the single mu- 
siker. Loew's switched spots to 
avoid any new tanglements. 
1 Izzy Rappapbrt's indie Hipp con- 
tinues as only , downtown site using 
vaudefilm policy, and only spot in 
Balto with stage show aside from 
Frank Durkee's Enterprises, east- 
side State, second-run flicker house 
that split-weeks three-act vaude bills 
on budget of $600 weekly. 

RK0 RESUMING UNITS 
AT SHUBERT, CINCY 

Cincinnati, Oct. 6. 

RKO Shubert to add units to 
Screen fare starting Oct. ' 16. Unit 
bookings for. .first five weeks are 
«M°i ie Parie senne,» 'Bowes' Ams. 
W T.g. Revue,' 'Glorified Follies' and 
shooting High.' 

House concludes straight film run 
SreanT^* ' Midsummer Ni £ h fs 



4-DAY STRIKE 



Atlanta footers' Walk Not a Long: 
One 



Allen Foster's 'Jumbo* 
Troupe Minus Billing 

Allen K. Poster, last with 'Jumbo,* 
js producing an act for the vaud- 
nimers utilizing the Foster troupe of 
girls and horses from the Billy Rose 
musical. 

William Morris agency is handling. 
Foster doesn't intend to use' the 
Jumbo' billing in any wise. It's the 
"■ouDe that was • last year at the 
■Hippodrome, N. 'Y., and this past 
summer in Fort Worth at the Fron- 
«er Festival. 



Atlanta, Ga., Oct. 6. 
Capitol theatre's standby musi- 
cians, eight in number, staged a 
walkout on- orders of their union 
Sept. 28 and walked back in Thurs- 
day with consent of house manage- 
ment. 

Theatre, Atlanta's only vaudeville 
house, has no use for standby band 
.since all units playing house bring 
their own bands. Management, 
however, three years ago, hired five 
local footers to augment trouping 
bandsmen and last year, to help out 
unemployment situation in local pro- 
fessional musical circles, added three 
more to bring standby outfit up to 
eight-man size. " 

House men were pulled out almost 
without notice. Fact that musicians 
traveling with 'Southern Serenade' 
unit, then on stage, stayed on job, as 
did stagehands and operators, is be- 
lieved to have, influenced about-face 
on part of union. 



WPA Celebrates 
50th Anni of 
Frisco Vaude 



San Francisco, Oct. 6. 

Golden Jubilee of Vaudeville is 
being celebrated by the WPA here 
this week on the spot where the first 
so-called: vaudeville originated, at 
the old Orpheum- theatre, now called 
the Columbia. 

Vaudeville' started in the Wigwam 
beer hall here 50 years ago at Stock- 
ton and Grant. Later higher class 
acts came into vogue and a larger 
theatre was built for them. That 
house, ' the Orpheum, later became 
the keystone of the Orpheum circuit. 

WPA's" presentation of old-time 
'vaudeville at the Columbia began 
September 3. Current bill offers 
What is styled 'the new order of 
vaudeville, 1936 brand.' 

John W. ROscoe, only living mem- 
ber of the original' Orpheum per- 
sonnel, was guest of honor at the 
opening of the Golden Jubilee bill 
Monday night (5). 



Cops Clamping Down 
On Philly Class Niteries 

""Philadelphia, Oct. 6. 

Determined drive against class 
niteries has been started by local 
gendarmes. Raid on Embassy Club, 
one of leading night spots, was pulled 
early last Sunday .morning for al- 
leged.after-hours likker sales. Couple 
of hundred guests, entertainers and 
musicians were chased. Owners, 
Sam Silver and Herb Smiley, with 
two bartenders, were pinched. 

Understood the raid followed 
squawk by local magistrate that in 
the recent drive against local nit- 
eries, 'big places' weren't bothered. 
At least half a dozen of leading 
spots have been remaining open after 
legal closing hours. Expected they'll 
now close" 1 on time "for usual till- 
this-blows-over period. 



Eddie Pilcer Bankrupt 



A voluntary petition in bankruptcy 
was filed last week in N. Y. by Ed- 
ward Pilcer, former 'steamship so- 
licitor,' and brother of Harry Pilcer, 
Paris m.c. and producer. 

He lists his debts at $3,257 and 
assets at $25, his wearing apparel. 
Among his claims are: National 
Trade Bank" of N. Y., note of $780; 
as stockholder lit Bank "of U. . S., 
N. Y., $326.50: note to John A. Muel- 
ler, 100 Park Row, $2,150.37. 




Chi Syndicate Buying UpDIusicals 
For Conversion Into Vaude Units 



To Supplement Current 
Parading — Figure, to Edu- 
cate Public in -'Live Music' 
and Stage Shows . 



AUDIBLE PICKETS 



Nationwide educational campaign 
by the American: Federation, of Mu-. 
sicians and American Federation of 
Actors to supplement the picketing 
in cities where permissible will prob- 
ably eventuate shortly. Campaign is 
expected to be even more vigorous 
than the AFM's heavy outlay for ad- 
vertising a couple of years ago in 
magazines, newspapers and trade pa- 
pers calling for the return of 'live 
music' in theatres. 

Picketing , in New York continues, 
with the musicians and actors parad- 
ing in front of more straight film 
houses daily. On Broadway it is 
especially noticeable,, pickets parad- 
ing in front of the Capitol, Palace 
and Strand. Two men (or women) 
carry the placards, while a third, is 
handing out literature derogatory to 
'canned music' and those ^theatres 
which pulled stage shows. Picketing 
by the musicians is being done With 
the cooperation of the American 
Federation of Actors and the third 
person on the picket line is usually 
an AFA member. Yesterday (Tues- 
day) the picketing was supplemented 
by audible chanting from the pa- 
raders urging to 'live and let live.' 

Several musicians' locals of other 
key cities have communicated with 
802 in New York, asking for details 
on the picketing and the results, if 
any (there have been none as yet). 
Ordinances in several towns do not 
permit picketing When there isn't 
an actual strike, which would force 
the AFM-AFA to take Other steps to 
apprise the public of their stand re- 
garding the return of stage shows 
and pit orchestras. 

Dave Klein, Fusion nominee for 
member, of the executive board of 
the New York musicians local 802 
and delegate to the American Fed- 
eration, of .Musicians convention, 
leaves- for Hollywood Oct. 8. On 
the trip out Klein will contact the 
business agents of various locals 
with a view to getting their reactions 
to the present theatre picketing sit- 
uation in New York. 

Klein will be gone several weeks. 



Silence Order In Frisco 

San Francisco, Oct. 6. 

Musicians here are formulating 
plans to bring back live shows and 
living music into the theatres, ac- 
cording to an announcement made 
last week by Eddie Love, secretary 
of local No. 6. 

There was some talk of the local 
union following in the footsteps of 
New York's 802 in picketing thea- 
tres not using orchestras. After sev- 
eral huddles, the Frisco union de- 
cided that the local picketing ordi- 
nance doesn't give enough leeway to 
do any good. If pickets here shout 
anything but the name of the union 
paper which they peddle, they are 
jailed. 

Union has plans up its sleeve to 
launch a big educational campaign 
in behalf of living music and live 
shows in the hopes of stimulating a 
demand ^or the return of musicians 
to theatres. 

According to Love, the California 
State Federation of Labor and the 
California Theatrical Federation are 
working with him in his campaign. 

Theatre men here are. watching the 
coming campaign with considerable 
interest, San Francisco being one of 
the strongest union cities in the 
country. 



Na6h. Resumes Units 

Nashville, Oct. 6. 
After discontinuing stage fare for 
ihe summer mc«)ths. Princes theatre 
resumed vaudeville Friday (2). 
Stage show is Jimmie Hodges' 1*111- 
Town-Laff/ a Wilbur Cushman unit. 

Shows will run for full week, with 
openings on Fridays. 



FANNER ROUTED 



Interstate Books Sally Jtand in Unit 
Production i 



Fort Worth, Oct 6. 

Sally Rand, with a unit, has been 
signed for a tour of Interstate cir- 
cuit, beginning Nov. 14 with one-day 
engagement- here. 

She will head unit to be billed as 
Sally Rand's ■ 'Frontier Centennial 
Revue.' Several acts are likely to be 
signed from Frontier Centennial. • 

The itinerary includes* week each 
in Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio-, 
with split. dates at Beaumont, Waco, 
Galveston, Corpus Christi, Harlin- 
gen, Marshall, El . Paso; Alber- 
querque, Abilene,. San Angelo and 
Sherman. The unit also will play 
Oklahoma City,- Tulsa and Enid, 
Okla., and then will jump to Florida. 



Vancouver Niter y 
Padlock Hits 20 
American Acts 



Seattle, Oct. 6. 

Twenty American acts were out in 
Vancouver, B.C., when edict by the 
mayor closed the night clubs. A total 
of 26 licenses .. were cancelled.' 
Blanche Hammond is reported to 
have done a fanless dance, which 
-started the moral wave, and selling 
liquor too late put the clincher to 
the edict. 

Among acts hit. by the order were 
Dotty Dee, Peggy and Marv^s, 
Renoff and Renova, Gauchi. and. 
Sonnen, Dur Moy .Sisters and 
Blanche Hammond. Acts were 
halted in the middle of their week's 
engagement at all spots, and book- 
ings for following week were de- 
leted. Miss Hammond did her al- 
leged fanless fan at the Oriental Gar- 
dens, Chinese operated. 

Approaching election may have 
been at bottom of.. the move, or 
rivalry between the popular Chinese 
owned and managed night clubs and 
the Canadian clubs. Clamping 4own 
has resulted in no bookings at this 
time from here to Vancouver clubs. 
American "acts have been playing 
Vaucouver dates only on permit of 
one or two weeks, with immigration 
laws stricter than in years. 



More American Acts 
Arrive in Australia 



Sydney, Sept. 6. 

New batch of -vaude acts arrived 
to play here and in Melbourne for 
Frank Neil. Lineup includes Jack 
Goldie, Gardner and Kane, Evers 
and Dolores, Billy Shenton and 
Brookins and Van. 

Neil is at present in America 
booking acts for Australia and will 
then go to England and the Conti- 
nent. 

Over here it's two-a-day, with no 
Sunday shows. 



New Haven's First 

Paramount, New Haven, plays Its 
first stage show of the year Dec. 4. 
House uses occasional units booked 
by Harry Kalcheim in New York. 

Opening show will be the Nils T. 
Granlund (NTG) Revue. 



Chicago, Oct. 6. • • 

Most ambitious project in vaude in 
recent years is being undertaken by y 
the newly - organized Continental 
Productions, which has just set plans 
for the production of a string of six 
units, within the next four months. 
New organization, set up by a local 
syndicate, has taken over the com- 
plete' productions of several New'' 
York legit musicals; also, it is re-' 
ported, the productions of the re- •' 
cently closed Casiha de Paree shows. 
This includes the scenery, costumes, 
settings, music and orchestrations of ' 
these shows. ■ • 

Deal has- been set for all the units 
to break in at the Riverside in Mil- 
waukee; the : opening show, 'Streets 
of Paris Revue,' having been booked 
by Manager Eddie Weisfelt for Oct 
30. The others will follow at two- ■ 
week intervals. Each show is to 
contain four major, production num- 
bers, plus a name headline attrac- 
tion and standard yaude acts. 
Units will carry line of 16' girls, 
with the exception- of the opening 
show, which will' also carry eight, 
chorus boys. Likely also that each, 
unit will have -additional box-office • 
angle in a nude, dancer. 

Shows will be produced in Chi* 
cago under supervision of Michael 
Todd, who has been appointed gen- 
eral, manager for the organization. 
Negotiations are on with - Sammy 
Rase, Paul . Oscard; Fred Evans, . 
Truly McGee, Murray Browne, Dor- (T 
othy Hild and Eleanor Savage to . 
stage the units*' . ... .".'• 

Each unit "will be. treated as an 
independent, effort,, and totally unre- 
lated to 'the others in the string. . 
Todd is now in. N. Y. assembling the 
productions, costume's arid scenery, 
and will be back in Chicago 
late this, week to, begin immediate 
casting and rehearsals. . Organization' 
is founded on the contention that 
vaude in itself' is completely put and. 
that only units count. 

While not yet set, it is understood 
that the booking of the acts in the 
units will be handled through an 
agency headed by Nan Elliott, 
former Pa'tltages and William Morris 
booker in Chicago.' 



CLEVELAND CASINO'S 
TOLJES' AS ROAD ACT 



Cleveland, Oct. 6. 

'Folies de Nuitf show from the 
former French Casino: at the Great 
Lakes Exposition in Cleveland has • 
been produced as a road - unit by 
Mike Special here; New ac^s . were 
added to the original attractions, arid 
six more additional girls Will- up -the 
line to 24. Featured acts include 
Bernard Bros, and Duyals who fol- 
lowed their exposition 'date with an 
engagement at the Toronto, Expo. 

Toto, nude terper, . is retained in 
the road unit as well as ihe Donald- 
sons, casting adagio troupe. Bert 
Byton is show manager, with Lou 
Pollock in advance. Ferde Simon 
booking.. 

The - Ni Y. French Casino made the 
local F.C. change its name, so it 
simply became' the Casino. 



HONEYBOY'S PTOMAINE 

Baltimore, Oct. 6. 

George Fields, (Honeyboy and 
Sassafras), radio act, was stricken 
with ptomaine poisoning Thursday 
(1) and forced to drop out of the 
final three shows of week at the 
vaudfilm Hippodrome. 

Fields collapsed in dressing room. 
Was placed under' medical attention, 
and'the next day was able to return 
to New York. 



Rose Van Camp's 

Murderer Convicted 



Detroit, Oct. 6. 
John Roehl was convicted last 
week of the murder of Mrs. Rose s , 
Rankin, known to an older genera- 
tion of theatre-goers as Rose Van 
Camp. 

Roehl fatally slashed Mrs. Rankin, 
owner of a rooming house here, dur- 
ing a brawl Aug. 2. Jury took only 
38 minutes to find Roehl guilty of 
second-degree murder. He will be 
sentenced Friday (0). 



LaSalle'a Other Boom 

" Chicago, Oct 6. 
LaSallc hotel is reopening its Blue 
Fountain, rooni; 

" 3Bob McGrew orchestra gets th« 
initial contract 



48 



VARIETY 



V4UDE-NITE CHIBf 



Wednesday, October 7, 1936 



Night Club Reviews 



CHEZ PAREE 

(CHICAGO) 

Chicago, Oct. .1. • 

tfew show here looks expensive on 

the talent end, but somehow all the 

money and effort doesn't seem to 

add up to much", except for a couple 
of standard vaude acts. 

This is a swanky but tough spot 
for any act. It has the toughest 
audience in town, Such acts as the 
Stuart Morgan Dancers and ' Read- 
inger Twins, who have - been proved 
surefire in every vaude house, have 
to sweat for meagre appreciation, ' 

But* if it's tough for the Morgans 
and the Readingers, it's . worse for 

• Georges Metaxa. • He's completely up 
against it here. ■ He just doesn't, seem 
to know how to handle this audi- 

■ ience. Sings, a couple of songs well 
enough and m.c.'s .the show in his; 
quiet, pleasant way, but it isn't .what 

• they want here. ■ They like to swing 
it. Metaxa needs ah intimate," quiet 

• room. • . i, ■ ? . 

~ ; Much. more to the liking of this 
; _ mpb is Jimmy Savo, who, with his 
regular' vaude act dressed up with 
Tsome nite club ad lib comedy, goes 

• over well. Not easy to see his feet 
dVer the table tops, but' his mugging 

- and clowning made good,, Had to 
encore and beg off here. ' 

' • Readinger Twins score with their 
, precious dance routine, - They are 
... the acme., of finesse, .with every 
movement carefully rehearsed.. Not 

■ a careless bit. in their entire session. 

- Morgan dancers .belong in the same 

- category, though they • .are adagio 
, yworkers. Sharp tossing by the male- 

..trio with the girl a comely and ef- 
fective tossee. ......... 

. . . 'Betty .Bruce, single hoofer, turns 
" In a good job in two routines when 
" caught: She leads one production 
number and solos later, both tirnes 
•, olc. Neila Goodelle is the fetfime 
. warbler on the bill, backed up with 
' - sortie nifty arrangements.; She gets 
■as much from this > bunch- as any- 
' body. : Irene Bundell steps, out of 

■ 'the line to lead the opening produo- 
- tion number - with a nice display of 

• pipe ability.- ■ ' ..... 

.Henry "Busse deserves' plenty of 
> 'credit- for. his playing of this show. 
' Besides .turning ■ in a . splendid 
., .. dansapatiori job,. Busse . comes 
V", through with a great showmanship 
and cooperation in his backing of 
the. acts. • Builds, and aids every orfe 
• 'of : them, even coming forth to clown 
t "with Savo; Biisse has been here 
'■ ..nearly a year on this, stretch already 
and not any . indication : that his 
popularity is waning* . . 
• . • Plenty of credit due. the produc J 
...tion side- of the show.,. Paul Oscard 
has assembled the neatest - line of 

• girls in the midwest, and Truly Mc- 
; Gee has routined , them in ' six 

■walloping dance numbers. - Oscard 

• has plenty, of flair for novelty and 

■ eye?appeal in his production, and 
this: show is spotlightingi.th& 'Nude- 
vision* number which is' a standout. 

• Gold. 



Lillian BERNARD . 
and Flo HENRIE 

The Female Van and Sch'enck 
8th Consecutive Slonth In Ofie Block 

Now CLUB ALABAM, Chicago 
■ INDEFINITELY . 



"JiMae" 

THE MYSTIFJER 

Fastest Pair of Hand* on the 
Atnerirnn Stage 

... ■ ■ ■ ■ Now 

BLACKHAWK JtESTAUfcANI 



fir. 



MSf..: MUSIC CORP. 



OF. AMERICA 



WANTED 

Acta and Units wishing; the bent the- 
atre and night club bookings In the 
northwest — write add send "one ' set 
photos to 

JOE DANIELS 

. 306 Palomar Theatre Bldg. 
SEATTLE, WASH. 



MAISONETTE RUSSE 

(NEW YORK) 

The Maisonette Russe of the Hotel 
St. Regis was. such a click last year 
that the town will now have three 
ultra vodka niteries, not countihg 
the long established steppe step- 
outs on East 55th (Caucausian 
Eagle) and around the 14th street 
and 2d avenue belt. But the St. 
Regis sort of paved the way for 
the white Russian motif in N. Y. 
much as the posUwaristfc regime 
scattered the nobility, with nocturnal 
managerial yens, either to driving 
Pans taxicabs or running Franco- 
Russian boites in the French capital, 
when American tourism was some- 
thing to be reckoned with; 

Now that America stays at home, 
what with the exchange, and things 
n stuff, Prince Obolonsky, Vincent 
Astor s ex-brother-in-law; - but still 
a good .friend and- now an important 
executive in the management of Mr. 
Astor s. St. Regis, conceived the idea 
of a counterpart of La Petite Maison- 
ette des Comediens Russe, as the 
French joint was fully billed. 

Meanwhile, General Lodijenskyi 
after summering as. a greeter at the 
Waldorf-Astoria's Starlight Roof, is 
back to preside over the -Sherry- 
Netherland's Russian Eagle" room 
(also in the grill part) which re-, 
opens Oct. 8 with Raphael, the con- 
certinaist, and Alexander. Bunchuk's 
ore. The Gen. also has been in Holly- 
wood, iii". the cate biz. and 'as an 
actor.' ;„ 

Meantime, also,'the'Hbuse : of Mor- 
gan on East 54th now becomes the 
"Original Maisonette RUsse of Paris,' 
opening this week also, with Mme, 
Anna Tokaroff presiding; The Mme. 
last year, was at the St. Regis, and 
hails from the Paris. boite of that 
name. This year she's on her own, 
having split with the St. Regis man- 
agement. •■■"'■: 
. As for the St. Regis* Maisonette 
-Russe, again it highlights Cornelius 
Codolban's excellent string and 
swing music; he augments his gypsy 
style with dance instrumentation 
and delivers the terp stuff handily. 
; A rather aimazjng" performer billed 
as 'Indefatigable Charlie'. (New Acts) 
Will give the customers something to 
talk about. Olga Vadina, Boris 
Belostozky, George Qrda ' and Tasha 
Nazarenko comprise the quartet 
"this year, a rather snooty vocal 
team doing characteristic story songs 
although Prince Obolonsky requested 
them" to do '/that hew Bolshevik" 
song'.' It refers to a ver.v neutral 
Russian air, now the < USSR's top 
pop song, but otherwise innocuous 
politically. (Ih spots like this, the 
musical repertoire must be ' strictly 
censored, not to repeat a memorable 
cataclysm, at L'Ermitage' Russe in 
Paris, When, an American tourist, 
buying beaucoup du vin, . thought 
he'd get into the. spirit of the thing 
-and request. .'Volga Boat Song.' The 
maestro forgot himself and obliged, 
only to annoy a Romanoff -linked 
party elsewhere in the room, which 
bawled out the management with 
all the fulsomeness that a. real or 
rtear-Russian Grand Duke can com- 
mand for such lese majeste. The in- 
cident was squared by another 
chorus of the old Romanoff national 
anthem, and that made it a Mexican 
standoff.) ' 

Agnes Roy, an Albertina Rasch 
girl, wearing a Tartar mantilla. 
particiDates in a Russian-type dance 
with Sultan Messakofl and Peter 
Liachenko, a couple of fierce Volga 
off-to-Buffaloers. They are former 
memhers of the Riders of the Cau- 
causian Squadron ot the Russian 
Imperial Army — or maybe the p.a. 
just made that up. 

As a glorified nitery, the Maison- 
ette Russe should again do. okay for 
itself this season. It's one of those 
10 o'clock dining places. If you come 
to " dinner at 8 p.m. you're prac- 
tically lonesome here. Tariff is $3.50 
for the table d'hote, wine not ob- 
ligatoire but very consecutive. 'And 
a smart saloon in any lingo. Abel. 



HOTEL COMMODORE 

( W YORK) 

Here's a \„ Jeville show with 
dinner for $1.75' up. This commer- 
cial hostelry's new fall season variety 
entertainment, booked as a unit via 
the Music Corp. of America, includ- 
ing the crack Mai Hallett dance band 
and four acts, is the answer to where 
vaudeville, went. Nor is it particu- 
larly good vaudeville, although it 
has the makings, but it's a commer- 
cial' setup, at. the price. Needed cut- 
ting, is so obvious it can't help but 
improve the situation after the first 
show. 

Fault is principally on. pacing. 
Fair 'assortment of vaudeville opens 
with Emily Von Losen, comedy toe 
dancer; Paul Gordon, unicyclist, in 
tails; Maurjne and Norva, ballroom- 
ologists, who need "plenty of school- 
ing; Paul Duke, sleight-of-handist, 
who has been at Leon & Eddie's, 
With a routine very a la Carding and 
likewise errs on .length. 

Properly pruned. : it'll shape up 
mqre fetchingly. This, coupled with 
Mai Hallett's socko dansapation, 
should put the Palm Room, of the 
Commodore on the map with the 
youngsters who've always been par- 
tial to; Hallett" any way. That alone 
makes it a smart .move.for the Com- 
modore^ as Hallejtt's rhythms are 
known, in the ballrooms and niteries 
of N.ew England, Pennsylvania and 
Ohio, and around N. Y„ and it's cer- 
tain to get the kids, especially .dur- 
ing the' football season., 

Maurine and Norva are given 
some sort of a 'Viva Villa' introduc- 
tory, . which cinematic antecedents, 
if so/ are .surprising in . view of the 
general Bowesy^ . quality of their 
terps. She's a nice-looking girl; he's 
in tails, A bolero, rhumba and 
tango-fox 'sequence- are way over- 
board on the Latin rhythms. Par- 
ticularly the opening.ibolero. 

Duke's sleight-of-hand includes an 
amazing handkerchief-cigaret trick, 
and he. has enough basic palming 
agility dispense with the Car- 
diniesque clgaret marathon. This 
would avoid odious comparisons, too. 

Hallett must brush up on his 
m.c.'ing. He should also park the 
baton, rather than- stick it into his 
side pocket as he does in between 
conducting and .'making .the an- 
nouncements. . It's a detail that 
makes for distinction between 
suavity and just, "en'eral competence. 
He has the personality and the ad- 
dress for the announcements, plus 
the basic dance appeal. 

Emily. Von Losen errs with the 
rest in being, brought back for ' a 
second acrb toe number, . although 
the black' sathi tails and top hat is 
a highly effective costuming.. . 

Headwaiter. at the door opening 
night manifested the situation was 
beyond his handling, judging by 
squawks. Abundance of conventions 
at the Commodore will probably 
always. make this a problem in cater- 
ing to the - resident guests, but the 
character of the. show and band in- 
dicates the hotel wants to binld up 
transient ^atroriace for its restau- 
rants. That calls for defter han- 
dling. Abel. 



Unique Quick-Change Dancers 





NOW 9th WEEK 
and continuing indefinitely 

BEN M ARD EN'S 

Just completed WARNER BROS. Short 
and 8 weeks with BENNY DAVIS Unit : 

(Thanks to Ben Marden and Benny Davio) . 
Personal Management: PAUL SMALL # ..J* 
WILLIAM MORRIS AGENCY 



BUBBLE RC r, M 

(BALTIMORE, 

Baltimore; Oct. 1. 

For decor and atmosphere this is 
the burg's best hrtery. Seats only 
about 350 at capacity, some table 
space having been, sacrificed this 
season to permit a bar at one end 
of room; bar is a good addition, not 
only to accommodate stray stags, but' 
also on its beauty. 

Johnny Johnson band (10, includ- 
ing leader knuckling at keyboard) 
is set for first 10 weeks (MCA book- 
ing).. Includes two non-playing sing- 
ers. Band' will probably span the 
season, since has caught on elec- 
trically with locals. Has the right 
style for room, a modulated one. 
ideal for the delicate acoustics, not 
swing nor sweet,- but a careful 
combo of both that nets a result that 
if neither and captures all listeners 
consequently. 

Only outside act is dance duo, the 
Royces (Eleanor and Seymour). 
Novel touch that clicks, in surround- 
ings is the rhymed introduction the 
pair patter into mike before each of 
two routines, first a medley of ball- 
roomatics, followed later by speedier 
tempo'd trot. Act is socko, and it's 
one of those in which the man out- 
shines partner (and not only in- 
opinion of the femme onlookers). 

Splitting the team's two terps are 
the specialties from the band, in- 
troed by Johnny Johnson, who 
might enunciate better and appear 
less lackadaisical;. Trombonist Al 
Jennings handles novelty tunes, and 
the non-musikers, good-looking tenor 
Lee Johnson and petite Patricia Clif- 
ford, work straight renditionsi The 
tenor is about o.k., no more. Miss 
Clifford has reed-thin pipes thait.are 
distinctively attractive, and Tier Back. 
Bay, Boston accent, end' clean- 
clipped enunciation pulls added at- 
tention. She can both swing and 
bawl ballads; she might, however, 
try to arrange not to appear to be 
attempting to bite the mike. 

In all, spot is so nifty that one 
forgets he's in BaltoJ a town . where 
really smart nite nooks have been 
sO,.few that knowing, discriminating 
visitors stock up oh novels and mag- 
azines when business, necessitates 
few days' lingering here. Bert. 



RAINBOW ROOM 

(NEW YORK) 
■ The RainbSw' Room's back to 
normal formality after letting the 
bars down for the sports-clothed 
cityites and tourists over the late 
spring and summer. It .gave the 
hoity-toity Rockefeller saloon its best 
season yet, of course, but with Oct. 
1, and the elaborately new show, it's 
soiree de rigeur, or else. The in- 
formalltes will be shunted into the 
Rainbow Grill (Johnny Hamp's 
band) and after 10. p.m., as at the 
Plaza, St. Regis, etc., Aresi, the head- 
waiter, will tell the non-tux trade 
that all the tables aire reserved. 

Show brings back two Rainbow 
Room faves— Ray Noble's crack 
dance band and Sheila Barrett. Miss 
Barrett. is easily the hit of the eve- 
ning with her very clever impersona- 
tions .which rank her with the tops 
among "nitery artists; • and probably- 
the cabaret field's lone Ruth Draper. 

Shelia Barrett, however, doesn t 
permit herself to become burdened 
too much with proving she's an 
'artiste/ but ' makes herself enter- 
taining first. Or, the answer is, 
obviously, that her native artistry in- 
sures entertainment. Her 'Goody. 
Goody* a la Lionel Barrymbre, Kath 
Cornell and just 'Goody Goody.,' with 
bumps, is a' fast starter". The casting 
office cavalcade, about the gjrl who s 
plastic, according to the needed type 
—French, drawing room, tough, etc., 
in refutation, that she's not the type 
—is a socko No. 2 number. Mrs. 
Gideon Hamilton; the actress delel: 
the joint's No. 1 patron who is al- 
ways right, drunk or drunk; 'Hamlet 
a la Bert Lahr and the. fair Ophelia, 
a la. Fontanne; .the Maewestian 
Romeo and Juliet; . the pre-repeal 
speakeasy -gal, were all. clicks. She 
did almost her -entire .book, and 
while sounding long, the .relatively 
decorous patronage which, the Rain- 
bow Room attracts went for the whole 
Works, and wanted more. Miss 
Barrett wisely called it an evening 
after her first request .encore. 

Don Cummings (New Acts) opens, 
and okay. Gomez and Winona; ball- 
roomologists,. standard in the niteries, 
do a standard brand of tango-waltz- 
foxtrotology, although he should oc- 
casion himself to quickly mop his 
brow after the second number and 
preserve that impeccable coolness 
which either sets off an exhibition 
ballroom team as meticulous about 
its every detail, or,just types em as 
adequate. Gomez could still knock 
off a few pounds. ■ : ' . .- . 

Evalyn Tyner doubles into the 
other room per usual with her cap- 
able pianologs. She's a holdover. 
The revolving' dance floor was given 
a little play at the premiere as 
maestro-composer-pianist Ray Noble, 
at the Steinway was given a. merry- 
go-round trip. Al Bowlly is now fea- 
tured in the billing with Noble. Per 
usual hfsf vocal choruses get over. 
Nano Rodrigo is back with his cork- 
ing tango rhumba rhythms including 
a Latin arrangement . of -Stompin at 
the Savoy' that'd- knock Benny- Good- 
man into the Onyx Club. 

Br. Sydney Ross, amazing presti- 
digitateur and sleight-of-hand table- 
worker (who also does, a little mitt- 
reading, if pressed ). is another hold- 
over and a click with the customers 
who si"nmon him for table sessions 
only. The card manipulator with a 
Ph.D. (London) degree is readyinf 
a floor act, but he has a neater and 
softer racket around the tables. 
Aresi continues, per usual, manor 
domoing at the door with usual 
efficiency, handling the blueblood 
natronage and the important visitors 
from the hinterland keys with the 
unntion of a didomat. 

Couvert is $1.50 and "$2.50 after 10 
D.m. Dinner $3.50, sans couvert. And 
the wine steward seems a pretty 
busy gent in a spot like this. 

Abel. 



LITTLE HOFBRAU 

(CANTON, O.) ' 

Cantop, Oct. 1. 

Little Hofbrau has undergone ex- 
tensive alterations since closing last 
spring, major changes including con- 
struction of a stage and bandstand at 
the west end of the spacious up-a- 
flight club, elevated dance area, and 
an attractive cocktail bar. ■ Interior 
has been entirely redone, making it 
about the swankiest hereabouts 
Frank Sennes of Cleveland is now" 
guiding, having taken over the spot 
from the Sinclair Amusement Co., 
which launched the downtown en- 
terprise with the advent of the re- 
turn of legal liquor. 

Zorine and her nudists top an en- 
tertaining floor show- 'More sensa- 
tional than ever; Zorine uncorks ' 
some new. undressing, in the final 
minute - of two of the scenes; Big 
punch' comes when an 'ape man,' 
amid a flash of powder, grabs the 
nude Zorine' and runs the entire 
length of the club with her, 
' Supporting bill is ..well, balanced, 
With top honors to Allen .and Parker, 
two boys who give the customers 
some- red hot stepping.. Bertey 
Sisters, in knockabout acrobatics 
seldom seen here, wind up with some 
sensational breath-taking fails. Sock 
team. ' , • 

■ Leo . and : Gregory, entertaining 
dance team,, do two excellent rou- 
tines as their contributipn to the 
more than 40 minutes of show. Mar- 
tin Sisters,; three good-lookers, har- 
monize pleasingly and wear . elabo- 
rate clothes.. They were added •> to 
the bill to take the place of Thelma 
Walters, who is the band's, regular 
soloist. George Williams, band 
leader has assembled a smooth 10- 
piece combo that is dispensing swing 
tunes to the liking of the .patrons. 
Band is set. for four weeks. and per- 
haps, longer. ■ George gets , intimate 
with the customers as they glide past 
him at the mike and makes many 
friends for the spot. 

Policy is two shows nightly ex- 
cept Saturday, when an extra show 
is. given, Harry -Reeder is the cater- 
ing manager and the food is better 
than average hereabouts. Drinks are 
a trifle high for a small town spot, 
(gin is two bits plus a cent tax), but 
so far there have, been few squawks. 
Floor show will be changed weekly, 
unless it clicks big, and Serines him- 
self is -attending to production. Spot 
has no 'opposition for miles around 
and exploitation extends to' a dozen 
towns within 30-mile radius, which' 
always pulls them in from the sticks 
Saturday nights. Mack. 

: Claire Eujenle, American song- 
stress, back from abroad, with How- 
ard Grodet accompanying,, augmentg 
the Essex House (N. Y.) show, which 
moved into winter quarters this 
week. Nat Brandwynne's orchestra 
continues, as do Maxine Tappen and 
Dick Stone, tenor.' 




^curroRD c. risciurs 

d -flmout 

2 SHOWS NIGHTLY 

3 DANCE ORCHS. 
* 

On the 
Cocktail Loung* 
An ftitbnaU R*vu« 



mo 



7lhAv*.wilS0lhSf. 

Rutrwaltom: CO) 8-7070 
THf womb's matrr/Mout jHtAw-narMnmr 



A New Act 

• BILLIE 



A New Sensation 

DENNIS . 



BURNS and WHITE 

A Romance in Taps and Songs 

Now CHICAGO THEATRE Chicago 



GRANDE VISTA 

America's Finest. Tourist Court and Cafe 
ST. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN 
Announces Their 
FIRST .ANNIVERSARY WEEK 
Starts October 12th, 1936 



IO OUR' 1MTKONS AND ARTIST!*— 

whd have been responsible tor our auccusa during the pnst yenr, we 
extend lliankH a lid appreciation. 

SIbuoiI IIOI'SK'OV 1>AVID 



NOW PLAYING THE MILES CARTER ORCHESTRA 

ARTISTS 
SINGERS 
ENTERTAINERS 
Catering to ih& Discrimating Traveler and Tourist 



12 



Wednesday, October 7, 1936 



VAUDE-NITE CLUBS 



VARIETY 



49 



Night Club Reviews 



■ ■■ I 

I I • »•' 



HOLLYWOOD, N. Y. 

While Joe Moss and his associates 
-1-Lbu J. .Brecker, George Olsen, 
Dave Loew, et al.— are worrying 
about getting their new nitery atop 
the Criterion theatre into, shape for 
a New Year's .debut, . Mqss . has an- 
other winner at his Hdllywood caba- 
1 Vet-restaurant. Harry Ricbman, per- 
haps the No. 1 song salesman in the 
show business today, alone insures 
that. 

. But, It's a pliable and elastic floor 
show which Danny Dare has 
fashioned ' from special material by 
Doris Fisher, Dave • Oppenheim and 
Jacques Krakeur, 2d; settings and 
costumes by Mme. Bertha. 

■ Other than Richman's fancy wage, 
reported to be up to $4,500 a week, 
the show is conservative on the bud-, 
'get; but highly professional. Jack 
Waldron continues his steenth. sea- 
son as m.c., and okay per. usual — he 
really should go with the lease. Nina 
Olivette* with Murray and King; are 
a* corking trio of comedy terpsters, 
with the femriie the clowning high- 
light of their unique acro-hooflng. 
Iris Adrian, alumna of the; line-, now 
gives, out with special lyrics- hv a 
somewhat Tuckeresque vb'cal -deliv- 
ery with a dash of Mae West. One 
special song is by Marion' Sunshine 
. and Max Hoffman. ' 

M)ther .specialists are Ednav Sedgr 
wick, Lyda • Su'fc,' and . Jean ! I^tndis, 
corking solo " steppers;. Dei.; Casino; 
Vocalist for the production numbers;- 
Joan Merrill, blues singer ;'. Martin, 
st|ll' the Hollywood's No. 1 showgirl;- 
' Archie' Bleyer's ' arid -''-Arthur. .War- 
wren's dance eorribo; a juggler named. 
Serge. Plash, who -doesn't, quite; - im-- 
press: and a corking array of beauts, 
billed as from the /Great ; Ziee " 



.Whether they're all or partially im- 
portees from- Hollywood ; into ; . the 
Hollywood restaurant, they've* been 
nicely built up "via Mack Millar; thfe 
tiitery's energetic ■ exploiteer, ; '.who', 
flew .'em across the country,.- with 
attendant ballyhoo. . :'.-<.:■'■ 

■ Of - Dare's production efforts,' Jack. 
Waldron's circus spiel, the 'Vanessa' 
number, ' so ably paced- by the m.c, 
is a strong comedy -interlude in mid- 
riff, .with • some novelty production 
Ideas on masks, decor, etc., as a' fea- 
ture. The 'Ziegfeld Cavalcade': is 
aptly the big production flash; a 
beauty, parade in impressive costum- 
ing and lighting. This in turn very 
appropriately segues- into Richmian. 
in .the ace groove, next-to-closing the 
show. Richman himself does a caval- 

• cade of song, that's significant on its' 
own in the associations of the high- 
light numbers . he's been identified 
with. •• 
'Singing Your Praises' • is Rich-i 
man's intro, and while a question of 
good taste asserts itself, his trans- 
atlantic achievement, coupled with 
his undeniable showmanship, should 
mbr£ ' than dissipate any captious 

' 'Commentary. Still,, it's a blatant bal- 
lyhoo, with its extra chorus anent 
'Singing Your Praises, Dick Merrill,'- 
wh'ereupon the parting of the cur- 
tains discloses „a neon-lighted East- 
ern Air Lines trademarked adver- 
tisement. But from then on it's Rich- 
man, the artist and song salesman, 
not the- aviator or the' printer's ink 



subject. 'Travelin' All Alone' is his 
second number, again with a sugges- 
tion of his air adventure. He had to 
beg oil. 

. He does a Helenmorgan kidding- 
ly, for 'A Treat for the Eyes,' with 
which he chides Columbia Picts for 
having omitted that in favor of other 
ditties when he made 'Music Goes 
Round' for Col. This is Lew Brown's 
song which certainly does impress 
as dandy song material. Thence the 
cavalcade of his songs. 

In the Ziegfeld number, the 4 3 
Musketeers' 'interlude is a sock with 
Jts -fencing business and general 
staging. The general reprise of the 
cream of the Ziegfeld. show hits 
naturally dwarfs any of the special 
song material by the accredited trio 
—Doris Fisher (Mrs. Jay Faggen 
now, and daughter of the veteran 
music publisher and songwriter, 
'Fred Fisher), Dave Oppenheim (no 
stranger as a Hollywood 'restaurant 
songsmith) and Jacques Krakeur, 
2d, more associated with the. younger 
school of legit musical comedies. It's 
more or less of a maiden effort -for 
Miss Fisher and augurs "well for her 
songwriting future. 

Edna Sedgwick, toe dancer, and 
Jean Lahdis, another personality 
stepper, have camera faces. • The 
chorus lookers; are among the town's 
top of the crop and are in line with 
the general trend: in N. Y., at the 
moment, of 'new faces' among the 
chorines:- - 

Nir»a Olivette, is a dancing Fannie 
Brice;' and should ' gd places; Del 
Casino is another comer among the 
rvocalists. Iris Adrian rates attention 
for- her intensive application to self-, 
furthering:. ; ~ ... V V 

. • iPer usual, the ^Hollywood Revels 
of 1937*. is potent stuff for the tourist 
trade; and the restaurant's 'policy of 
rip couvert with: its ' $i.50-$2 table 
d'hotes, portends another big. season 
for Joe and Nat Moss; - Abel. 



f lmnl<H to JACK HYT.TON 
For Solid Booking 
Till April, 1037 

JOHNNY 

HOWARD 

K«w. York Hbp.— MW WEISS 



Show .People All (lie World Over Will 
. . .lie. liiterentcd to Know Thut- 

SIDNEY FISHERY 

(I'ormerly nt'29. Wnrdour StreetV 
is Now Locnlod. at Mora CommoillouB 
. . Premises at 

75/77, Shaftesbury Avenue 
PICCAIMM.Y. LONDON. UNO. 



CHRISTMAS CARD AGENTS 

Largo profits easily earned ' selliiiK 
new 2'1-Foldcr- Assortment. Scl)ji < *ffl- 
Hieht lor $1.00. Write To* particulars., 

DOROTHEA ANTET, 
2J86 West 72nd St., New Yorjt, S. Y. 



Hotel Pennsylvania 

(NEW YORK) '.. 
, Bpnny Goodman swings it a-plenty 
in the Pennsy's grillroom, called the 
Madhattan, with its mdderne decor 
which is almost ante-bellum along-, 
side' of the futuristic Goodmanesque 
rhythms. Having been built up on 
the, crest of the swing vogue, .Good- 
man comes in almost at its peak, if 
not mayhaps just a, trifle! behind it, 
what with talk here 'n' there anent 
the passing of swing; the. yen . for 
more moderated swiqgo, etc. 

Anyway, he's indubitably the fore- 
most exponent of the 1936 ..sizzling 
style, arid whether the 'king of swing' 
is a more euphonious and lyrical 
billing than an actuality', is beside 
the point. It's a certainty Goodman 
will put the Pennsy's grillroom on 
the fnap, although' he's likely to put 
that crew of captains and waiters on 
an aspirin diet with his forte tempos. 
The' p. a.. system is either at fault or 
Goodman had better dispense with 
the amplification iri totb. He really 
doesn't need it, the way his men 
send it. 

The brass team blares like a bar- 
rage of bullets — not blatant, nor dis- 
cordant, but unquestionably hotcha 
and high pitched. But as for the 
dansapation, there's no denying its- 
appeal,- judging by the kids' reaction. 
However, in a hotel spot, with its 
somewhat conservatively transient 
patronage — it's right across the street 
from the Penn R. R., and a natch for 
the hinterlanders— the pitch will 
have to be controlled. 

Otherwise there's no disputing the 
Goodman appeal of his swing jazz- 
ique. The trio, with Jesse Stacy and 
Gene Krupa, does tricks, too, and 
Helen Ward is a capable vocal in- 
terludes ' Goodman,- of course, is the 
key man on his clarinet. 

Floor show is limited to Bernhardt 
and Graham, now something of a 
standard at this Statler hostelry, do- 
ing orthodox ballroomology in neat 
and effective manner. 

New York hostelries are arrayed 
in a battle of the bands— Lombardo. 
Lopez. Noble, et al. — and Goodman 
at the PennSy should more than hold 
his own.- Abel. 



CHATTERBOX 

(PITTSBURGH) 

. Pittsburgh, Oct. 2. 
Only the fact that William Penn 
hotel's a class stronghold and man- 
ages to get pick of name bands for 
long> dance engagements keeps Chat- 
terbox alive. It's a long, ungainly, 
narrow and unattractive room that 
looks depressing and has nothing at 
all in common with spot's summer 
place, the Urban Roof. 

This isn't a new criticism. It's' 
been levelled against Chatterbox 
ever since it opened several years 
ago, and it's about time the hotel 
was thinking about building a win- 
ter room that will do credit to town's 
No. 1 hotel. Even the Italian dining 
room would do better^ but-if doesn't 
have the capacity, although that 
could easily be remedied with a lit- 
tle construction, - 

Management has been lax in rem- 
edying this situation because it has 
a stranglehold on the smart trade. 
Natives are used to it by now, but for 
strangers it's a comedown after the 
modem rooms in ace hotels of key 
cities elsewhere. No reason why 
management ' can't stretch the 
budget a bit, get' something up to .the 
minute ' and keep Chatterbox for 
what it is and must have been in- 
tended for, a, banquet hall. 

If move must , await diminishing 
biz, however, it won't come in near 
future, since Chatterbox has for its 
first attraction of fall season Paul 
Pendarvis, . an old fave here, and 
judging from ' the opening, night 
crowd, still .that Pendarvis is still 
the handsomest front man ever to 
hit these . parts ' and his ;mUsic re- 
mains tops with the dance crowd. 
There's 'proof - : enough '.of- . 'that in 
the floor, jam whenever he strikes 
up. and the crowd that pushes in 
front .of the stand whenever any of 
his specialists, are at . work. • Among 
these, are Eddie : Scope, cute .male 
warbler, arid Marjorie .Beattie, last- 
miriute sub for Shirley Lloyd, who 
left : Pendarvis ' just before . : his . re- 
opening- here to join Eddie Nelson. 
Man for roan, Pendarvis' crew looks 
class and is that, musically and otfi-' 
erwise. : ■ ■ ■ ■ • 

In past, Chatterbox has been con- 
tent to get along with just a band 
But riot this year. Management 
started floor shows on Urban Roof 
during warm months and rightly 
feels it wouldn't be wise to drop 'em 
now, particularly with many diffi- 
culties room itself has to overcome. 
Trouble with a floor show is that it's 
lost here except for. those at the im- 
mediate ringside. A row in back of 
that (room is .unterraced) is like be- 
ing in' another county.' 

Entertainment is headed by dance 
team of Roberts and' White; follow- 
ing the new trend towards satire and 
burlesque in ballroom terping. Gal's 
a good mugging . comedienne . and 
their repertoire, while keyed the 
same, is good for consistent laughs. 
Only, thing, they rhust worry about 
is a sufficient number of routines 
over a possibly long route, since 
Chatterbox^ gets plenty of repeaV, 
and- this type' of stuff ia apt to be- 
come too familiar. June' Taylor does 
•sorhe excellent acrobatic footwork 
and LePaul is a tard manipulator of 
more than average talent, but in a 
tough spot locally following Paul 
Rosini here. Latter was around all 
summer, one of the best and built 
up enormous following. 

For the time being, at any rate, 
Chatterbox is sticking to its no cover 
policy, with minimum of $1 on week 
nights and twice that on Saturday. 

Cohen. 



CHEZ MAURICE 



Sully's Showboat, in N. Y.'s Green- 
wich Village,' new owner Harold 
Meltzer, is showing oldtime pix con- 
tinuously with the drinks a la the 
old Coney Island days. The pictures 
are westerns and thrillers, vintage 
of 1915,' ' 



••-•Just Concluded 18 Weeks -Headlininfl Palmer House . 

MILTON DOUGLAS 

Chicago's Singing Sensation 
Now Appearing CHICAGO THEATRE 

THANK YOU — CHICAGO 



MURRAY 



LAKH K 



HAMMIK 



WORTH, WYLE and HOWE 

"Tlie Scream "StuM" In Trrn«n 
1-OEW'S ST/fTE, New York, This Week (Oct. 2) 
" Opening Oct. 10th, MAVFAIK-CASINO, Cleveland 
With N. ti.'s Vnli 
ThunkB to Al CroHsniH* ' • * 

AT,. ftROSfl.MAN — DhU'tfoii— NORWOOD anil KEfX* 



(MONTREAL) 

Montreal, Oct. 1. 

Coincident with annual trek from 
country to town, Montreal's ace 
cabaret- restaurant opens its fall and 
winter season with 'Autumn Leaves,' 
well dressed and fast moving show. 
Chez. Maurice is' social registerite 
spot here.' with 124 tables, and can 
take in around 450. 

Bob Roltner m.c.'s and gets a salvo 
as soon as he steps on floor. He has 
fine baritone voice. Roltner brings 
in 10-girl line, lookers and smart 
steppers. This intros Mitzi and Al 
Diamond, who mike 'Knock, Knock' 
with some local touches that pet 
laughs. They finish with a fast tap. 

Myrna Roberts, in second spot, 
sings blues in deep contralto to a 
handsome reception. Maybe m.c. 
shouldn't have told crowd she had 
a cold, her voice being what It is. 

Roltner sings 'Ladies from Hell' 
and line enters against a backdrop 
with wavering spotlights indicating 
infernal regions. They step out as 
the 10 greatest feminine lovers of 
antiquity, a fine opportunity well ex- 
Dloited to display gal stuff and opu- 
lent costumes. 

Mitzi and Al back for some more 
stepology, and then Ernie Mack in 
impersonations. He draws the hand 
of the evening. Roltner in again 
with medlev and good baritone ren- 
dering of 'Glory Road.' Line back in 
black feathers and little else while 
Roltner marshals all acts in a shout- 
ing finish. 

Alex Lajoie band with Leon Koff- 
man, strings and guitars, filling in. 
Boots McKenna, producer, and John 
Tinhof in charge. of French cuisine. 
Show changes every three weeks^ 
No cuv, but minimum of $2 per per- 
son after 10 p.m. Two shows nightly. 



VERSAILLES, N, Y. 

Benny Fields will put tfte Ver- 
sailles on the map again, if his open- 
ing night impression is any criterion. 
Continuing his marked 'comeback' 
— after never really having been 
away — a show business phenomenon 
which was one of the highlights of 
the last season — Fields is destined 
to become staple and b.o. in a field 
where he's always been a staple, 
solo and/or with his partner-wife^ 
Blossom Seeley. 

As for the Versailles, this East' 
50th street nitery, so ably maestroed 
by Nick Prounis and Arnold Ross-, 
field, with Johhny Boggiano in the 
background, had a bog-down when 
curtailing its name policy. Dynamic 
for many riionths, the spring and 
summer curtailment, with secondary 
talent, was too much of a contrast. 
All of which is one of the danger 
buoys of the cafe field, where, if the 
rep is established in one direction, 
any attempt to veer is dangerous. 

Fields is made to order for this 
spot. Jimmy Durante, is spoken of 
to . follow. . In the past the male 
draWs seemed dynamite, top, such as 
Harry Ricbman, Georgie Jessel, Lou 
Holtz, although Lucienne Boyer was 
a bit of a wow on her own. Any- 
way, Fields ('your minstrel man' is 
the billing) should be responsible 
for beaucoup couvert charges. 

.The- Meadow -Brook Boys are ex- 
pert dansapation back-up. .. Gali- 
Gali;v the" Egyptian table- worker, 
continues with his clever legerde- 
iriain. Joe and Betty > Lee are the 
dancers, young team. Clemente 
Rh'umba Band for the Latin rhythms. 

Fields with, his 'Broadway JRhythm' 
thematic, his- new 1 song chore out 'of 
'Big 1 Broadcast,' . and . his, distinctive 
interpretation, of: the current pops;, 
specially arrariged arid pattered, ' 
brings into the nitery belt that good 
old vaudeville "socko which has long: 
spotlighted him in the past; The re- . 
newed acclaim goes with-the cycles 
and is ' one o' - those things in this, 
here racket. ■ •> . Abel. 

Grosven;6r House Cabaret 

(LONDON) 

London, Sept. . 25. ••" 
•' -Sophie Tucker is still at the top 
of the heap of American artists who 
have cQme over -to this, country. She 
certainly plays. return engagements 
more consistently and successfully- 
than any of the others whose names 
come to mind- at the moment. When 
she opened at Grosvenor House, cab- 
aret last night, all the tables were 
occupied and- hundreds turned away. 
Reservations had-, come by wire from 
the continent and the crowd was a 
smart one.. 

. She openedv with a Thanks for 
Your Welcome' number, and then 
sang 'I'm Strictly a One-Man 
Woman,' "The "Concert Performer,' 'I 
Picked a Pansy,' then a parody on 
'The. Music ..Goes Round and Round, 
'Those Foolish Things' and 'Life Be- 
gins at 40,' Which made an excellent 
finishing. "number, supplemented by 
a. couple of her favorite old ones, 
Which were demanded. 

The only, "way the applause for 
more numbers could be stemmed 
was for Sophie to introduce Edgar 
Bergen, the Ventriloquist, and ' she 
made an effective stooge in a lively 
routine .with the dummy, enabling 
her to steal away while the spec- 
tators were interested in the Bergen 
act, • which should be a sensation 
here. It is .so much improved since 
he made his initial appearance here 
some half-dozen or more years ago 
that it is not recognizable. These 
two. acts comprise the entire stage 
entertainment. 

You wouldn't expeqt La Tucker, 
conceded by all and sundry to ba 
an ace show-woman, to make the 
mistake of returning to the stage on 
her opening night after Bergen had. 
finished his act. and doing a couple 
more of her old numbers. But she 
did, and had to w?rm up the. cus- 
tomers all over again. In justice to 
•her, she got away with it, but she 
won't. try it again*. - Jolo. 



MONTPARNASSE, N. Y. 

What may be significant is this 
East 79th street and Madison avenue 
nitery, the Montparriasse, which, un- 
like the Left Bank's characteristic 
frugality, is anything but that. It's 
not lavish or .expensive, but it's 
quite a smart boite, soft-cushioned 
and amply . mirrored, with a thor- 
oughly midtown air and flavor. 
. Its significance lies in the thought 
that, perhaps this is beginning of 
another new trend — the nabe nite 
club. Just like- the nabe picture 
theatres, from shooting galleries 
they've become de luxers; • From, 
just the nabe saloon, why not a nabe 
class spot? • 

Maybe it's not a 'must' that one 
need travel downtown -for amuse- 
ment. There's even been some talk 
of scattering . the Ugit theatre map 
into the nabes, with the new build- 
ing laws how permitting the erection 
of a theatre, as part of an apartment 
house, for example. 

Montparnasse had ' a speakeasy 
background, when, formerly at .10 
East 52d street. Then it became the 
Continental. Now the same manage- 
ment has moved' uptown,- with. 
Joseph C. -Smith, of memorable 
background at the old Hotel Plaza, 
more latterly at El Morocco and the 
Versailles, dispensing the dansapa- 
tion with the same sprightliness as 
of yore. The alternate combo Is 
Rodriguez's, and likewise facile, both 
for the Latin tempos and into the 
foxtrotology.- But Rodriguez 1 is more 
than- normally adept with the rhum- 
bas and'tarigos; 

Otherwise it's a 'corking French 
restaurant with a $2.25 table, d'hote; 
ho couvert or minimum. any time, 
and when you ask for (l drink: they 
bring the -^bottles to thfe table ; just 
to provevit/fi on the up 'n' up. Arid 
it ; also proves- thatc they're smart 
showmen-tegteurateurs, - Abet- 



BARBERINA, BERLIN 

; - ; Berlin, Sept. ;25;.* 
This . charming nitery, built jn 
rococo style, and noted for its genial, 
atmosphere, has gone through hectic 
days. Frorii its swankiest- time before 
the' depression, when American acts 
like 'the Bori John . Girls and the 
Hollywood Red Heads, were booked, 
right from the -Wintergarten at- 
salaries ranging between $1,000 and 
$1,250 weekly for two months solid, 
down to the present days, there" -is' 
quite a difference in attendance arid 
customers' checks. ' , . ' 

• In -.those days, biz was so terrific 
that the' management 'decided 'fo ac- 
quire the house jiext door and en- 
large' the £4rberiria to more -than 
double "its size. Annex was named 
'Ambassadeurs,t and -special agents, 
were sent to Paris and London 'to 
book talent of the. best calibre. Eddie 
Duisberg, " the Scala director, was 
then agentirig and booked many acts 
for the Barberina and the Am- 
bassadeurs, But luck deserted the: 
Barberina with the opening of the 
Ambassadeurs and trouble started.. 
.'Budget was too- heavy, times had 
changed and the courts got busy. * 
■ Today,, under -new management, 
-Barberina is still the same charming 
place but has settled down as a kind 
of smalltime nitery. Bill still consists 
of eight acts, but their total salary 
does not reach the figure paid for- 
merly tc one act.- There is A femme 
mic. Crete Gravenhorst, who ushers 
in William< Petras, comedy juggler; 
The Schmettan Sisters, contortion- 
ists; ' Mimosa and Caballero Trio, 
dancers; .Three Rialmas, tumblers; 
Nita Nerbwa, gypsy dancer; Dagmar, 
toe dancer;! and two bends, trios, • 
It's a pleasing sfcow fo'r the low 
charges. 



Guy. Lombardo had another 'open 
ing' at the Roosevelt. Hotel. N- Y„ 
last Thursday night— his sixth here. 
That makes him one up on.; Ben 
Bernie, once a fixture and quite a 
stockholder of this hostelry when 
E. C. Fogg was the managing direc- 
tor until the old 77b or something 
like that came along. Berman G. 
Hines has since been doing a good 
commercial job in general with the 
Roosevelt and, judging by - Lbm- 
bardo's pac.e, he'll do all 'right at, the 
grill, once again. , Per usual those 
Lombardos' rhythms, with Carmen 
vocalizing, and the general sweet-hot 
style looks to put this hotel on the 
map all over again with the kids. 
The 4 Esquires is a new unit with 
the Lombardos. 




the 



Now 
HAMBURG, 
GERMANY 



SPIKE 

initxny . 
HARRISON 

T.;Um£ Comedy ttenmUon At * 

BILL'S GAY NINETIES 



r 



Eddie Lane's band bows at the 
Vanderbilt hotel, N. Y., Oct. 9. Dean j 
Gopdelle and Jean Farries, terp team, I 
are with band. 



Marque and Marquette 

Headlined at 

CASINO DE PARIS, PARIS 

Kxclnalro Directions 
Music Corporation of America 



MEET 1'Ol'K **AVOKlTE 8f AH OF 8XACE AND SCREEN 
AT MIKE FRITZEL'S 

CHEZ PAREE 



' Am«r1c*'«* gmaricNt R«Ntauranf and Sapper Club 



'alrbanks 



C H I C A G O 



Delaware WM 1 



III 



50 



VARIETY 



V4RIE1V HWIE REVIEWS 



Wednesday; October 7, 1936 



Excellent Vaude Bill and Poor 

leretta on Combo London Bill 



Op. 



London, Sept. 29. 
Composition ot revue, variety, liallet and 
opera, presented by Kurt Robitschek. Book 
by Douglas Furber; lyrics, Frank Eytun; 
music, Will Grosz; dances, Fred Lord. 
Florence Churnbecos. Features Florence 
Desmond, Vera- Nargo, Darlene Waldero, 
Music Hall Boys, The Buttons, Joan Col- 
lier. Dolorps Delgarno, Lai Foun Chinese 
"Wonders, Taka. Slaters, 12 Aristocrats, 
Charlotte Arren',. Johnny Brodcrlck, Maria 
Eisner, Van Kirk. George Gee, Bruce Car- 
fax, Elisabeth Welch, Fred Sanborn. At 
Victoria Palace, London, Sept, 28, '36. 



Kurt Robitschek's .new policy at 
the Victoria Palace is in two parts: 
first is an idealized variety show 

■ with not less than half-a-dozen real 
hits; second is an operetta in four 
scenes, a Viennese version of the 

■ story of Pygmalion and Galatea, 

Latter half is where the manager's 
name appears as one of the three 
authors of the original book .arid, 
here is where the writers of the 
book might do well to conceal their 
identities. 

• ■ For the London production, Doug- 
las Furber has been added to the list 

. o£' contributors to the book, and the 
music i& based on motifs, by Franz 
Suppe. A more pointless .and witless 
concoction has not been offered Lon- 
doners for. many a day. It contains, 
among other things, a scene in 
which Venus lures Socrates from his 
bathtub, wrapped only in a large 
towel, and proceeds to massage him 
in crudely vulgar fashion. 

First half is a- mixture of revue, 
variety and ballet, all of it sur- 
rounded by tasteful scenery, skillful 
lighting and attractive costuming. 
Act after act scores. In fact there is 
■not one of ' the: turns or numbers 
that does not caU.for favorable com- 
nient. ~ ' 

'. Opens with the Buxtons, a pair of 
comedy acrobats, with a routine done 
at the Palladium a . couple of years 
ago- in much, better fashion by Roth 
and Shay. Followed by Lai Foun's 
Chinese Wonders, including the 

, Taka Sisters, clever and youthful 

' oriental acrobats, jugglers anil con- 

'. tortionists,. '.' , 

Florence Desmond follows with a 

■ clever burlesque of a music hall 
•soubret of": 70 years ago. In this 

scene Dolores Delgarno does some/ 
. brilliant travesty dancing, beading 
the girls in a bathing belles number 
; of that era. Scene was obviously de- 
signed to introduce- the Music Hall 
Bpys, who are competent in giving 
an. impression -of the' contemporary 
comics. They have been entertaining 
successfully at the Berkeley, hotel 
. cabaret and are to double at the 
Trocaderq cabaret, which celebrates 
■ its 40th. anniversary as a restaurant 
on. Oct. 5. , 
. . Fred Sanborn was a last minute 
.booking to replace Walter Dare 
'Wahl, unable to appear.. Sanborn 
. was handicapped by. .the illness of 
Jois wife, who is one of his two 
.stooges, and Jeff.Fayre,.. an alleged 
card manipulator, substituted. He 
nevertheless registered forcibly at 
the opening, ■...>■ 
. M>ss- Desmond ..offers ; .an aug- 
mented series of imitations. She is 
.probably the . ace' of all native 
.mimics, and impersonates Katharine 

• Hepburn. .Greta .Garbo, Jimmy Du- 
: . ;rante-, Elisabeth . Bergner, Grade 

Fields, Jessie Matthews, Marlene 
•'. • Dietrich and Dorothy Dickson. Miss 
Dietrich, seated, in a box with Noe\ 
Coward at the opening,, apparently 
enjoyed the exaggerated imitation of 
herself. 

•This closes the first part and, if 
Robitschek has the courage. to cut 
out the entire second half, giving 
the principals of the first part -ad- 
ditional opportunities, he will have 
a twice nightly show with which it 

• will be extremely difficult to com- 
' . pete. -' ."■ 

Payroll, as at present allocated, is 
estimated by those who * should 
•know as a $9,000 weekly hand-out. 
: A goodly portion of- this could be 
'„■ saved by elimination of the second 
. part, avoiding the walking out of no 
small percentage of the audience. 

Jolo. 



in the simply produced platform dis- 
play. While six girls are billed for 
the opening number, scene of which 
represents a row of brownstone 
fronts with practical entrance, they 
are obviously from the ballet corps. 
Those getting billing for minor bits 
include Polly Iuen, .Betty Bannister, 
Martha Wilbert, Hilda Eckler, Mig- 
non Dallet and Nina Sabatini. They 
all have short toe assignments, rest 
of the ballet coming from the brown- 
stone fronts later on for a group 
routine. 

Glee club, led by Robert Weede 
in an operatic medley, figures, in the 
second portion as sandwich men. A 
special number by Earl Moss and A1-: 
bert Stillman was • written for the 
choral group. They are topped by a 
shooting gallery site with some of the 
Rockettes as human targets later go- 
ing into action downstage. They rep- 
resent American Indians and offer 
a routine ; that is interestingly and 
well done. 

Wahl's act is the one punch of the 
show. It's the same olcf comedy acro- 
batic -routine, garnished by a short 
hand-to-hand bit legit, but so well 
done that it still continues to amuse. 
Background of interior of the Ameri- 
can Museum for Wahl isn't much. 

Little Church Around the Corner 
has been cleverly reproduced for the. 
blowoff, with a wedding, and a. car, 
carrying the bride and groom, going 
across the stage for curtains;. Beatrice 
Joyce and Robert Weede act as a 
vocal duet, - while dressing includes, 
the . Rockettes, as bridesmaids in a 
smart routine and the male. chorus. 

Symph this, week is plugging selec- 
tions from 'White' Horse Irm* (legit) 
which has just started at the Center. 
A Walt. Disney Silly Symphony. 
'Toby Tortoise Returns' (UA) serves 
as filler. 
Business fair Thursday night (1). 

, Char. 



MUSIC HALL, N.Y. 

\Nothing very pretentious nor im- 
pressive about the^ current stage 

; show here in support of 'Craig's 
Wife' (Col)' and it runs only 35 
minutes, but it pleases. It's a second 
.edition of 'Manhattan' and was 
staged by Leon Leonidoff in four 
.scenes, last of which colorfully de- 

, picts the Little Church Around the 

; Corner, Other three scenes are much 
less elaborate, one being merely of 
drops to suggest the Museum of 
Natural History as background for 
Walter Dare Wahl. 

(Many shows here have obviously 
cost more to put on than this one 
does, w'ith the Music Hall manage- 
ment perhaps doing a little cheating 
this, week in the thought that 

eWorld's Series crowds, will come to 
see the theatre anyway. Out-of- 
towr.ers may not even know or care. 
Except for Wahl; stock performers 
of the Hall comprise majority of the 
talent, with Rockettes, ballet corps 

. and glee club figuring prominently 



ST. LOUIS, ST. L. 

- St. Louis, Oct. 2, 
While natives are not breaking 
down portals ' of St. Louis theatre, 
where Fahchon & Marco's combo 
policy is in fifth week, audiences like 
stage shows, if applause is a cri- 
terion, and current bill is*, on par 
with those that have preceded. House 
does a sell out biz Saturdays and 
Sundays, but rest of week the b.o 
activity is just so-so. 

Current program Is made up of 
four acts; in addition to' Roxyettes 
and Freddy Mack, in.c., and pro- 
vides 53 mins of entertainment that 
never lags. Sixteen girls start with 
a smart precision rope skipping rou 
tine and then give way to Ray 
Vaugh, He bats out some nasty pop 
numbers on his xylophone and does 
a tap dance long with.it. ' 

Rodney and Gould, tail and short 
pair of dead pan nuts, put over a 
nice bit of tun making. Then on 
comes, half of Roxyettes for a Span- 
ish routine, preceding Armida,. Mexi- 
can hotchaist, who warbles in two 
languages and lures customers into 
singing a kiss song' with her. She 
returns to . boards . for a Spanish 
dance in which line joins. 

Mack and his tooters follow with 
their usual community -sing, which 
is growing in popularity. Then 
comes that hardy perennial. Senator 
Murphy, who expounds on the presi- 
dential race and closes with a straw 
vote obtained by audience applause. 
This audience went for President 
Roosevelt. . 

On screen is 'Sing, Baby; Sing* 
(2d run) (20th-Fox). Sahu. 

RQXY, N. Y. 

Pot-pourri of nothing very much 
here, but passable entertainment, 
• due mostly to nice work, by the line 
girls. It's built more along prodiic.- 
tion lines than is usual at this thea- 
tre. Charles Collins, who is starred, 
on a return date to- the house, is 
centered in a solo and a duet with 
Nadine Gae, then working again in 
the finale, with the line and Miss 
Gae. Latter is with the line in the 
opening number, with the several 
regulation vaude acts interspersed. 

'First number by the girls and 
Miss Gae is a fine one, precision 
and hot, nicely routined and cos- 
tumed. Art Barnett then attempts a 
bit of imitating and joke-making. 
His imitations of whistles and such 
are rather good; his jokes and his 
singing are bad. 

This is the cue for the girls again, 
with Collins entrancing via . a raised 
platform in backstage and doing a 
fine tap routine. Then into the Waltz 
with Miss Gae, which he did in the 
film 'Dancing Pirate' (RKO), Collins 
has a pleasant enough personality, 
educated tootsies and an exaggerated 
Smile. Girls will probably like him. 
And '.girls,, .as background for bis 
dancing, help him a lot. too,, giving 
it a nice flash appearance. Collins 
is no stranger to ' vaudeville., hav- 
ing done-* dancing, act with bis wife, 
Dorothy Stone. 

Herman Hyde- and Sally Burrill 



next. Standard vaude comedy act, 
and good. Perhaps it is time after 
lo these many years, for ' Hyde to 
find some new material. But per- 
haps, he figures, what for? Where's 
he going to use it? Anyway,, it's the 
only comedy on the bill and okay. 

That calls for the finale, again 
with Collins and Miss Gae. Again 
costuming and routining of the girls 
highlight. , 

Ahead of the show Jack JTegley, 
subbing for Russ Brown, announces 
some news items in a radioish fash- 
ion. He follows the regular . (Uni- 
versal) newsreel arid -there seems to 
be little sense to it, but maybe there 
are some customers at the Roxy 
who don't know how to read their 
own papers. , • , 

Feature, 'Nine Days a T Queen 
(GB). Biz Frjday night off; Kau/. 

STATE, N. Y* 

'Last of the Mohicans' (UA) is the 
film this week, but after three- 
weeks' run at the nearby Rivoli on 
Broadway it couldn't have been the 
deciding factor in the sellout biz 
Friday night at the State, It must 
have been the staee show (the State 
now being the only purveyor of 
vaudeville left in Manhattan), de- 
spite the fact that there isn't a strong 
b.o. name on the bill. 
' State- is getting regular customers 
now, the same vaude fans dropping 
in week after week.- This has been 
reflected in the theatre's grosses in 
the ^past year or so, the house in that 
time seldom dipping below $20,000. 
Figures below 20G's here weren't un- 
usual when the Palace and several 
scattered nabes in the city were 
using combo shows. 

This week's topper Is George Hall's 
orchestra, an outfit that's been .playr 
ing at the Taft hotel- for six years, 
and is still going. This stretch is 
understandable; ifs an ace- dance or- 
chestra, the 16 musicians (plusbaton- 
eer. Hall) dishing out excellent music. 

It's the closing act of an excep- 
tionally long, show for the State (78 
minutes) and apparently was told to 
cut Hesult is that the band divides 
its time with two singing , specialists, 
Johnny McKeever, tenor, and Dolly 
Dawn, personable- novelty hotcha 
warbler, both of whom are strong. 
But what music is heard from the 
orchestra is tops, including the un- 
usual- novelty of hot licks on a 
French horn by one. of the musicians. 

Other acts in the show all click 
and are practically all standard, from 
the opening Five Elgins (three men, 
two ferns), hat and Indian club jug- 
glers, to the' next-to-closing Harry 
Savoy." who .hasn't changed a line in 
his -stuttering -double-talk (with 
femme. assist, Louise Tobin), but 
still gets laughs* Deucing are 
Worth, Wyle and Howe, one of the 
newer knockabout acts with some 
original mayhem, stunts* while in the 
middle .slot is Al Shayne, radio bari- 
tone. Audience, slightly milked, went 
for; him, Scho t 



STATE-LAKE, CHI. I LOEW'S, MONTREAL 



SHUBERT, NEWARK 

Newark, Oct. 5. 
Vaudeville . made' another ohe-day- 
stand in Newark yesterday (Sunday) 
and the Shubei-t was again packed 
to the roof as' it was last Sunday/when 
this type of : entertainment 'returned 
after a long absence. The second 
show did not • rate with the first, 
Which had Belle Baker and. Pat 
Rooney, but it' was a good show just 
the same and enthusiastically re- 
ceived. 

Mitchell arid v Duraht bally hooed 
their Hollywood triumphs, but it 
wasn't until they reverted to their 
rough arid tumble acting that 
they got the patrons Cheering. 
Anthony and Rogers did their fa- 
miliar 'wop' act and the Seidler Re- 
vue presented routine dancing with 
nothing new offered. Lillian Kenny, 
vibrant little miss with a big voice, 
handled several Spanish 'numbers 
very effectively. 

' Doyle and Donnelly, two young 
men with plenty of personality, were 
clicking strong till' they presented 
the age-old burlesque pantomime bit 
of the femme roller and the drunk 
With the seltzer bottle climax. Done 
.10 times by actual count last season 
'at the Empire burlesque. Sylvia 
Manon and Co. are distinctly conti- 
nental in their porcelain clock act, 
featuring diminutive Sylvia and 
three acrobats who swing her 
through the air to the accompani- 
ment of two femme singers. 

Hennie Youngman is. the m.c. and 
does a Milton Berle very cleverly, 
However, it is high time m.c.'s real- 
ized that forcing the audience- to ap- 
plaud every act over and over again 
is not only out-dated, but at times 
very unpopular. The audience re- 
sponded less and less: to his demands 
as the performance continued,' and 
that should have been sufficient warn- 
ing. And another beef is the 'begging 
speech' of one or more actors on 
every bill. They plead with the audi- 
ence to support the return of vaude 
ville, which is all right if the plead 
ing stopped there, but they continue 
in lachrymose fashion about how 
they must live and that the money 
they get will be spent among the 
local merchants of the town they are 
playing in. Vaudeville used to be big 
enough to stand oh its. own merits 
without sob-sister tactics. Newark, 
for instance, 'wants vaudeville pack, 
not for its tradesmen or any other 
cause, but because that type . of 
amusement really entertains them. 
' . Dalxv 



Chicago, Oct. 4. 

By a long series of experiments, of 
trial and error, they have proved to 
their own satisfaction here that the 
ordinary vaudeville show hasn't . the 
basic box office possibilities of unit 
shows. Take the same vaude show 
arid dress it up with production, a 
couple more girls and a good, snappy 
title, and the gross will rise several 
thousand dollars. The simple expedi- 
ent of calling the show a unit, with 
the inference of flash in costumes, 
production and girls, means higher 
grosses, v 

This show, which is strictly a 
house-built affair for a onerweek 
stand, is labeled 'Continental Gaie- 
ties,' and- it's" One- of. the poorest 
shows, ever caught in this house. In 
the- entire layout only oiie act scores. 
That is Steve Evans, who next-to- 
closes. 

Evans does his. regular impersona- 
tion routine and. every one socks. 
Finishes' regular act with drunk bit 
and it was a smash at show caught. 
A solid roar from start to finish, 
necessitating a speech and then an 
encore before they'd let the show 
continue. Evans has played, this 
house several times before, but 
never did such a job. With all due 
respect for Evans, he hasn't much 
competition for honors this time. 

Business was absolute capacity at 
the last show on opening day (Sat- 
urday)-, and yet the other acts on the 
bill laid hen fruit air over the place. 
There is, for instance, the fizzle of 
the Weiss and Stanton turn. They 
have borrowed all the gags and jokes 
they could remember. But- instead of 
taking new stuff, they brought in 
material whidi. has. been kicked 
around for years. When this audi- 
ence doesn't laugh at a joke, then it 
really is. an old . one. And this audi- 
ence did a Sphinx act. . After the 
failure of any of the gags to click, 
Weiss and Stanton dig into moth- 
eaten burlesk routines. Femme as- 
sist, the third member of the turn, 
tries a couple of buthps, but doesn't 
shake the audience. 

For some reason Carter and 
Holmes fail to make good here. This 
knqekabout act has been around and 
has always gotten over fairly well- 
But this time they miss by a mile. 
A couple of weak snickers occasion- 
ally, but that's all. Act appears to 
have gone back and needs tightening. 
It seems to be falling apart. 

Just old-fashioned vaudeville is 
the act of Francis Renault. Femme 
impersonator tries with his regula- 
tion routine^ most of 'which is kibitz 
and a bit of self-clowning. But he 
couldn't make a go of it at this ap- 
pearance. . Walked off to hardly a 
ripple from this audience. 

Betty Lee is a single xylophonlst 
up in the deuce. She plays loud but 
not particularly effective. Better is 
Burton Pierce, a tap. dancer who 
shows fine possibilities. In at the 
opening and -closing, he turns in two 
smart and • whirlwind - numbers. 
-House augmented its regular chorus 
line this week, tossing 20 girls at the 
public. Good flash, especially the 
fan number. 
Picture is 'Postal Inspector' (U). 

Gold. ' . 



Montreal, Oct. 5. 

This house, for the first time in 
weeks, comes back to a straight 
variety show currently. Seven acts 
run to 75 minutes but pruned to 65 
minutes after the first show. .Eddie 
Sanborn and band constitute an 
eighth act with plenty of solo work. 

Irving Edwards is m.c. against a 
futuristic drop, with the Sanborn 
band in back. Show is set up with 
tables, at which the acts sit. Band 
starts with solos on trumpet, sax and 
fiddle, then the m.c. steps on with a 
flock of gags and intros the Five 
Reillys, youngster troupe made up of 
two girls and three boys who soft- 
shoe and tap, very fast and neat. 

Deuce is Carr Bros, and Betty, 
strong men and tumblers who clown 
through their act in a routine with 
many new variations. Betty, looker 
in long loose gown of royal blue, 
taps and the brothers return for a 
straight strong man. turn that is 
socko. 

Edwards back in clown imitation 
of Carrs and more stories, some new 
here and some not so new. to present 
Aunt Jemima (Tess Gardell) in the 
trey. She sings and does a little 
stepping despite her heft. Band gets 
hot and after a -fair reception- she 
wins the crowd -to big applause. 

Edwards comes on for the fourth 
turn and clowns with Sanborn, clos- 
ing with a song to nice applause. 
Stage is darkened for nudist- effect 
m dancing by Mademoiselle X turn. 
Next-to-closing, is Clyde Hager, 
standard pitchman act. Show closes 
with the Three Speeds, roller 
skaters, gal and two men, which has 
a variation from usual in electrically 
lighted skates- and- electric /torches 
in hands on darkened stage. 

The Texas Rangers' (far) on 
screen. Lane. 



PARAMOUNT, L. A. 

Los Angeles, Oct. 1. 
The two years that have inter- 
vened since Jimmy Starr, Los An- 
geles Herald and Express film col- 
umnist, last appeared as a stage at- 
traction, have done little to help the 
chatterer improve his. value back of 
the footlights. True, he does bring 
to the stage some gratis guest artists, 
whose presence saves the turn from 
being a total loss. 

Starr makes no bones of the fact 
that he is both nervous and ill-at- 
ease in front of an audience. Few 
stories he told at today's . initial ses- 
sion laid an egg, and his so-called 
Interviews with Roscoe Karns and 
Jackie Coogan, - two of his pro- 
moted guests, didn't mean much. 
However, the pair, likewise Betty 
Grable, who warbled, gave the pay 
customers something for their coin, 
so after all Starr's presence car. be 
condoned. 

Other talent this week includes 
the Keene Twins and Vic and La- 
Marr, dancing quartet; Linn May- 
berry, harmonica' player, whistler 
and comedienne, and Pat O'Shea, 
tenor. All do nicely, as do also the 
F&M line girls, who have, two well- 
executed routines. Opening appear- 
ance has them emerging from a huge 
drum, atop of which O'Shea warbles 
a military number. Then at finale, 
femmes emerge from a jewel case 
before going into one of their rou- 
tines. 

Band under the baton of Rube 
Wolf plays a symphonic arrangement 
of 'Yankee Doodle* that is expertly 
done, reflecting credit on the ar- 
ranger and on Wolf. It also gives 
the latter an excuse to play a cor- 
net solo, which he does capably. 

Screen has dual bill, 'Adventure in 
Manhattan' (Col) and 'Wives Never 
Know* (Par). Also Par newsreel 
and Pop-Eye cartoon. Trade- about 
average at initial stanza today. 

Edwo. 



TOWER, K. C; 

Kansas City, Oct. 2. 

After several weeks of pretty bad 
shows "this house has. apparently co- 
ordinated its new regime • into, a 
workable unit. Currently the bill is 
up to the house standard. Pic is 
'Love Begins at 20' (FN). 

The usual lack of getting things 
off to a good start is still here. Line 
which has been shaved to eight, 
but with four boys added, flip a 
football about and call off the names 
of college tunes the band toots. 
Could have been whipped into bet- 
ter shape. 

On the line's two other appear- 
ances, they warm up and are pass- 
able. Spotted near the middle of the 
show with some acrobatic work, 
they are effective. 

Pacing difficulties are shouldered 
by -Jerry Stewart, who m.c.'s. He 
does some mimic work that is fine, 
but when he brings on an act his 
patter is weak. He spends too much 
time telling the mpb how well, they 
are going to like 'em. 

Wolford's Pets, a dog turn, -with 
ten dachshunds, is sure fire for a 
Tower audience. Springboard and 
tight wire antics by the elongated 
pooches click. Jackson and Nedra 
hoof on some stairs, but their work 
is better when they do straight chal- 
lenge. . 

Gregory and Raymond use inner 
tubes, vacuum cleaner and toy bal- 
loons in a nicely worked out routine 
of pop tunes. They have: the comedy 
the bill needs. One of the lads does 
some flips and turns that are 
dandies, but the turn is already sold 
and he's risking his neck for nothing. 
This week's tyros, two boys, play 
guitars and sing. 

John Paul Jones sings 'When April 
Comes Again.' His. piping is pleas- 
ant. Hoyt. 



MET, BOSTON 

Boston, Oct. 2. 
Marquee lure in this week's stage 
offering , are Dick Merrill, round- 
trip Trans-Atlantic flyer, and Al 
Donahue's band, late of the Rainbow 
Room, New York. Judging- by the 
big vacant spaces throughout the 
house OR the opening show, neither > 
is pulling. 

. Although beautifully staged and 
framed, the show wobbles on its pro- 
duction knees. • Outstanding excep- 
tion is handling of Merrill's bit (New 
Acts), which gets good response from 
a straight interview by a local radio 
announcer. 

Donahue is pleasant enough to 
listen . to and his appearance is 
thoroughly polished, but on routin- 
ing there is much showmanship 
lacking. Best bet . with the ork is 
Bobby Gilbert, planted in the fiddle 
section, who clicks with some swell 
dialect and his novelty- fiddling. In 
general, band lacks punch. 

Opener leads one to expect much 
from the ensuing bill, since it is a 
gem of production and lighting. This 
is Burns and Swanson in a very 
slightly bolero number on a diminu- 
tive stage in back of the ork. Work- 
ing in cramped space, this duo rate 
a special nod. 

Only sock in the show is the ec- 
centric hoofing of Shea and Ray- 
mond; but it comes too late. Close 
with a- mess of daffy tomfoolery in 
rhythm. 

Other specialties on the bill are 
Jaryis and Mack in a- waltz-clog idea: 
May McKim in vocals, hampered, by 
poor mike technique or mechanism; 
and the Winsteads, vocal and instru-r 
mental trio. 

Screen: 'Wives Never Know' (Par). 

Fox. 



Wednesday, October 7, 1936 



V ABIE 11 HOUSE REVIEWS 



VARIETY 



51 



HIPP, BALTIMORE 

Baltimore, Oct 2. 
• Since it remains the sole vaude- 
film loop site, .the Hipp this week 
has evidently sought to hike up the 
number of acts. - Current show 
" possesses no less than 10 — more than 
lias any lineup since two-a-day 
driveled up.. ' 
'■ ,** It's an excellent show, with only 
smudgy mark on its- sheet that of 
being too long in running 72 min- 
utes. Opening performance on Fri- 
day swelled to 96 mins;, but by time 
' 'show' was caught, final performance 
that evening, time was boned down 
to the. hour and' 12 mins. .An idea .of 
•jrtst what sort of entertainment it is 
. can be gleaned from fact each act 
. sprinted on, did the score of its best 
work, then scooted. 

Eddie White (he has played here 
12 times in. less than four years), 
drum-major's the. • parade as m.c. 
\ He's limited to one gag every other 
jntro of an act, and in. his own. slot 
,-, gives, out just a comedy medley of 
. -^pops interlaced via their titles for 
the laff levying. Being a performer 
Mrfiose f or"t5"are those long, rambling 
yarns about Hebe dialecticians, he 
■'. . would be doing better with more 
•time. Adaptable to almost all con- 
• ditions of shows, he handles the 
. .tough m.c. ministration on this lay- 
• out with no small skill. 

■ With band hoisted ud from pit 
onto stage, first act on is Dawn and 
Darro'w, t'efp twain: that did' con- 
siderable nitery work hereabouts 
last year. An o.k. picture waltz is 
their offering; later down the ladder 
they return for an adagio routine 
that scored. Pablo, card and ciggie 

" . manipulator, next with his standard 
panto act Qoff. and Kerr, couple 
chaps lately iri Versailles Club, N.Y., 
do' their dueting accomped.by one's 
planoing. All they've time for is a 
pop and then their satire on tribu^ 
lations of team of amateurs attempt- 
ing to make grade in radio: Diece 
still highly effective, but not so 
much so as when pair intro'd it here 
list year when Bowes had a much 
tighter headlock on affections of 

. Johnny Q.' Public. 

V ■ -Beatrice Howell, youthful imita- 
.tor, has pair of pipes marveiously 
Qualified to do the miming. Went 

■ Over strong, routine enhanced by its 
crisp brevity and the ace quality. 
Next come standard act of Harriet 

. .Hayes and the .Three Samuels. First- 
named opens with her aero hoofing, 
then the, two boys have their inning 
of comedy taoping.' Miss. Samuels 
.then solos with tapping, and finale 
is achieved with foursome locking 
arms- in military, attire for the 
snappy unison stepping. 
Dave Monahan, xylophonigt, corh- 
■ nwnces with sprightly, rendition, 
■then mounts stool and taps out tunes 
with sticks attached to shoes. Since 
tf/sh't dancing on the keys, isn't the 

- Will Mahohey caper, and Monahan's 
Wav of working removes any simi- 

■-. -I^-'.y in onlookers', minds, especially 

. sihri 'half the time he's using the 
tootsies as tune-tappers,- he's work- 
ing with -hands holding elongated 
sticks as well. Bobby Pihcus, vis-a- 
vis'd by the comely Isabel Dawn 
.. (Mrs. Pincus), does abqut half his 
. jegular turn, using the meatiest por- 
tions, 'and sews 'em up securely. . 
'• Head-and-shoulders standout of 
bill is Josephine Huston, soprano 
'Whose pipes pierce and play' up arid 
down three' yocal ranges: With looks 
that warrant attention from films 
and a distingue mien that instantly 
elevates her several notches above 
run-of -bookings warblers encount- 

. ered in- vaude today, she bounced 
fim right out of the benches with 
>ucky Star,' 'Dance, My Darlings' 
and Take My Heart.' It's first vaud- 
aate here for Miss Huston. 
; Closing, the Five DeGuchis. 'two 

. ffirls, three men; crack' corps of Nip- 
ponese mat tumblers and risely-ex- 

: perts. 

Feature is 'Follow Your- Heart' 
(Republic). Standees lower floor 
Friday night Bert. 

Modern Playhouse, N. Y. 

-Located in a. cheap rent district in 
• 3£ e upper reaches- of Third Ave., the 
Modern has hung out its banner as 
trie only all-Hungarian pic and 
Presentation house in the U. S. Re- 
ferring to its policy as containing a 
presentation stint is strictly slretch- 

iS* T? bit ' but at least they've ran 
m -c. He gets up in between show- 
ings of the Hungarian film, Hun- 
garian newsreel and shorts, and 
We s through about 10 minutes of 
JOKcs and gags. He must be some- 
where near the okay class because 
°n th^ showing caught (24) he had 
»i the aisles. Billed . simply as 
«?fu ' Szemere, he flies around 
With /the staccato ebullience of the 
late Nikita Balieff to whom lie bears 

S{ j ln 5 Physical resemblance. 

Modern could otherwise be rele- 
gated out of mind as just another 
foreign language curio, except that 
inese curios are peppering the U. S. 
with enough frequency to become 
almost a trend. Superficially it's a 
?k i 03c that fo r*»gn language houses 
Vl^l-j. °e. springing up with such 
rapidrty at a time when the immi- 
fj-f!"? kids are becoming American- 
il t ii m thorough fashion. But the 
snatks who deal in foreign films 
«ave made some statistics, and from 



their computations they've come to 

iver 0 ?^ 1011 -^] 10 ^ more than 
fiw' n£ S COm in forei « n language 
rl^t T i he ^Pe^cial paradox is 
really only superficial. 

Sitwation stacks up thus: 
nJT™,i^ e . war „ sc ares. and intense 
nationality in Europe commanding 
attention, individuals of remote for- 
eign birth find a curiosity in know- 
ing what the homes of their ances- 
tors were like. Couple of years ago 
this curiosity would have remained 
dormant. Foreign 'culture' in the 
U. S. was not visually depicted in 
any fashion except via -cheap' club 
plays, society dances, etc, Ameri- 
canized Hungarians generally con- 
sidered this type of presentation too 
nunky to pay any attention: But 
now that foreign pix have got to be 
pretty good (Hollywood's been there 
long. enough to teach 'em), the racial 
curiosity can, so think the entrepre- 
neurs, be satisfied by showing 'em 

And they don't depend on the oTd.- 
s^ors. They want strictly the younger 
Irede; Propaganda to .that effect is 
being manufactured. 

'Modern Playhouse', is a typical 
example of how the 'distributors of-> 
foreign ..language films 'work out 
their scheme. 

House — a 300-seater in modern 
tempo— is owned by Danubia Pic- 
tures, and is managed by Eugene J. 
Lang, an officer of that. outfit. Danu- 
bia put the place up simply to find 
an outlet for its wares. 

Total film production in Hungary 
—where, incidentally, the language 
is not a Slav tongue, but of Mongol 
origin just as the Finnish — is about 
30 pics. Eight companies are pro- 
ducing at the present time. Danubia 
here has signed for 23 of their prod- 
ucts, generally getting them about 
two months after first showing 
abroad. New York's Hungarian 
population is roughly 100^000, count- 
ing in over-all figures. There are 46 
Hungarian societies which can be 
contacted for attendance, and one 
Hungarian paper. 

In the rest of the U. S.. between 
40 and - 50 houses show Hungarian 
films on occasion, though only the 
Modern is totally Magyar. Best bets 
for opening additional houses are 
said to be Cleveland, Detroit, Chi- 
cago, Bridgeport, New Brunswick, 
Perth Amboy, Pittsburgh, and Los 
Angeles in the order named. Ar- 
rangements in these burgs will be 
on tap via Danubia soon. 

Current film showing at the Mod- 
ern is 'Az Uj Feldesur* (reviewed 
heretofore). Newsreel with dubbed 
in Hungarian and some shorts also 
shown^ Prices are 35c eves. rM 25c. 
matinees.. Edga. 



AMBASSADOR, ST. L. 

: St. Louis, Oct. 3. 

A new idea in stage shows revived 
at^ Fanchon & Marco's downtown 
deluxer Friday (2) struck a respon- 
sive chord, according to audience 
applause, arid continuation, of shows 
such as one presented currently is 
certain to bring back halcyon days 
when Skouras Bros, mopped up at 
same house With combo policy. New 
policy is similar to pit band policy 
at N. Y. Paramount. 

With 20-foot kiosks erected at each 
side of proscenium giving entrance 
to three-foot runway in front of 
band, which sits on an elevator plat- 
form, performers are limited to sing- 
ing, etc., ' as small space prohibits 
dancing and acrobatics. A perma- 
nent set has been placed in back of 
tooters and almost ^completely ' hides 
curtain when band -platform is 
raised, 

• As band, batoned by Paul Ash, 
who also serves as m.c, rises to stage 
level, George Byron, formerly with 
NBC in New York, assumes role of 
'Newstator' reading latest press bul- 
letins through co-op with radio sta- 
tion KMOX, local outlet for CBS. 
Two sets of Byron's news releases 
come after last edition of afternoon 
rags is on street and is good info 
for . payees. Then comes 'The Hit 
Parade,' rendition of three numbers 
selected as most popular of current 
week on Lucky Strike Hour through 
arrangement with maker of that 
ciggie. 

Byron sings one song,..T/>ny Ro- 
mano, late of . Pepsodent hour in 
Hollywood, does another, and Judith 
Lawton, once a member of Ben 
Bernie's troupe, a third. Cappy 
Barra's harmonica ensemble, eight 
lads, clutter small space and go into 
football huddle for their harmony. 
One of their numbers clicks with 
'Flight of the Bumble Bee.' Mabel 
Todd, singing comedienne, wins, cor- 
dial response with her warbling of 
pop tunes and crossfire with Ash. 

Morey Amsterdam, with his non- 
sense and cello playing, clicks, par- 
ticularly with his singini imperson- 
ations of Kate Smith, Ben Bernie, 
Al Jolson, Bing Crosby, W. C. Fields, 
and his interpretation of a two-way 
radio conversation with Admiral 
Byrd at Little America. Ash and 
tooters then give their impression 
of Louis Armstrong's band, and an 
outstanding band will be handled 
this way each week. Show, running 
45 mins., is brought to a close with 
Romano singing theme song, 'Thanks 
a Million.' 

Screen offers 'Give Me Your 
Heart' (WB). , Sahu. 



COLONIAL/DETROIT 

• Detroit Oct. 2. 

With one exception, this Class B 
house harbors a good all-around 
show currently. Abetted by couple 
of medleys by Boyd Senter's six- 
piece band, sandwiched nicely among 
acts, show* runs about 45 minutes. 

Four Dots and a Dash, in the clos- 
ing cog, is a misfit. The four Negro 
males, plus white male tapper, put 
on a hodge-podge of group warb- 
ling, hoofing and antics that don't 
rate. They received an .encore, but 
patrons here seem to applaud any- 
thing. 

Rest of card would do some Class 
A spots justice. Foremost of these 
is Smiley, pantomine clown, who 
deserves more than the opening 
turn. His femmo partner turns in a 
nifty job as the dummy in the open- 
ing shot of act. Smiley's antics in 
getting the dummy on a chair isn't 
new, but it's done well. Following 
a comical bit with a rag doIL Smiley 
pulls a first-rate balancing feat on 
four tables. 

Something new at this spot is Paul 
Garrison, the 'singing usher,' who be- 
tween shows says his 'How many, 
pleez?' in the aisles. Entering from 
out front while Boyd is doing a sax 
solo, Garrison reveals an oke tenor 
voice. He has plenty of poise, and 
got over fine on two numbers. He's 
billed as 'French.' 

Another outstanding bit is credited 
to Jimmy LeCore. harmonica expert. 
He clicks well with audience and 
gets a couple encores. His 'My Hero' 
from 'Chocolate Soldier' hit the spot, 
but his playing; of a small harmonica 
by means of a tube is the highlight. 
Would do well to save this bit for 
the climax. Next-to-close are the 
Three Arnolds, two " males and a 
femme with a round of good acro- 
batics.. They have the feats, but 
need,, considerable polishing. Their 
reversed pyramid 'can be made into 
a honey. 

A f ull house on hand at early eve- 
ning show Friday evening (2), a lot 
no doubt attracted by the $180 Ac- 
tion Night. Pix are 'It's Love Again' 
(G-B) and Traitor:' Pete. 



EMBASSY, N. Y. 

NEWSREELS 

World Series action stuff takes 
precedence over everything else, in- 
cluding . the Spanish revolt, this 
week, and the Embassy showed that 
it knows its audience thereby. The 
ball- game leads off and that seemed 
to suit the customers perfectly. 
From there on the current bill is 
just another- bill. 

Pathe has the baseball leader, also 
copping the No: 2 spot with a com 
bination clip on havoc being 
wrought by snow, fire ' and floods 
around the country. Other Pathe 
stuff includes President Roosevelt 
speech (ahead of Landon); ' Jorges 
Brescia, new Argentine heavy 
weight, in training;, gas drill, Negro 
baptism and Duke vs. Colgate. 

Paramount contributes the bomb- 
ing of Toledo (ditto Fox), Paris'- 
textile strike, Jenkins setting auto 
speed marks, King Edward on the 
move, wrassling match, fire in 
Brooklyn, new American Legion 
chief and Minnesota vs. Washington. 

Besides its Toledo bombing views 
and Landon, Fox offers Secretary 
Woodring in a talk, bullet proof 
glass exhibition, fashion display, 
and two football shots- ^U.. S. C.- 
Oregon and Navy-William and 
Mary.. 

Hearst is limited, to cops in the 
sky, smoke screen, maneuvers, dare- 
devil driving exhibition. Universal 
shows a new bombing plane, new 
package coal, fiesta in Italy, annual 
turkey roundup, New .York model 
show, world's tallest boy signing a 
contract and a nutty barrel boat. 

Two shorts are Par's 'Popular 
Science' and a Fitzpatrick on Rio de 
Janeiro. , - . , Bige. 



NEW ACTS 



GEORGE OLSEN ORCHESTRA 
Instrumental, Singing 
Hotel Gibson, Cincinnati 

George Olsen .is in front of the 
best band, musically, he's maestroed 
in the decade or so. it's < been since 
Ziegfeld ferried the then drummer- 
leader east from California into 'Kid 
Boots.' Immediate destinies of the 
group are niteries, and the plenty 
sweet and flowing versions heard at 
opening here Saturday (3) consti- 
tute a highly effective, ultra-modern 
medium of musical expression 
ideally couched for the class spots. 
Tempo has 'em gunning the hooves 
from opening gong, and volume is 
just right to fill up those table con- 
versation voids without distracting. 
Which means dancers and romancers 
are equally salved. Critical swing 
red-hots won't give group much, but 
the genuinely music-minded will 
salute unusual harmonies &n.d novel 
instrumental combinations woven in 
an Olsen session. 

Instrumental personnel includes a 
Hammond electric organ, an elec- 
trically amplified steel guitar, four 
reeds, piano, bass horn, two trum- 
pets,* one trombone, and drums. 
Combo claims a 'first' on using that 
kind of guitar, also Hammond in 
ensemble. Guitar isn't strongly fea- 
tured, as usual with groups using 
that instrument, but is toned down 
to blend with remainder of crew. 

Replacing Ethel Shutta as fea- 
tured femme vocalist is Edith Cald- 
well, low-voiced Birmingham brunet 
looker, a University of Alabama 
grad. All her material- is speciaj 
stuff, but differs from Miss Shutta's 
familiar technic in laying off the 
light comedy angles. More on the 
torch side, and she really has the 
aspect and pipes required. 

Leighton Noble does the male 
soloing. Looks dark, dashing and 
gets the femm'es. Olsen warbles , a 
chorus now and then. And there's- a 
trio, comprised of Noble,' Miss Cald- 
well and George Mays, second trum- 
peter. Olsen and Miss Caldwell col- 
laborate on some duetting. 

All arrangements are specials. 
Chick Floyd, band's organist, is 
doing them. Sounds like he's styling 
a harmonic modernity away from 
musical banalities and triteness 
which, while not arresting enough 
for an overnight sensation, should 
set the band among the topnotchers 
if the tonal niceties can be put on 
the air as they are produced on the 
sfand. 

WLW- picks up this spot- for quar- 
ter-hour -at 12:45 nightly, pretty late 
for best returns. There's, ah occa- 
sional feed to the Mutual web in- 
cluded in etherizing -arrangements. . 

Band, originally assembled by the 
late Orville Knapp. upon demise of 
Knapp was taken, over by Noble,- 
who still does the rehearsing. Un- 
der his baton they closed at William 
Penn , hotel, ' Pittsburgh,. Sept. 30. 
Olsen disbanded his former orch in 
Montreal Oct 1, taking helm of cur- 
rent group for opening here. Olsen- 
Noble setup is said to- be : a semi-co- 
operative arrangement, a la Glen 
Gray and Casa Loin a band. 

Music Corp of America is booker. 
DeArv Barton, MCA Cleveland office 
manager, and Nate Krevits. p.a. from 
Chi office, down for getaway. Heavy 
biz on first night - Koll. 



Unit Review 



PARISIAN FOLLIES 

(ORPHEUM, LINCOLN) 

Lincoln, Oct. 4. 

After making a 1,500-mile hop out 
of New England- into this territory, 
Sollie Childs has joined the Wilbur 
Cushman time and this is his second 
date. His production is labeled 'Pa- 
risian Follies.' Different than the 
usual brand of show on this time, it 
leans the girly way and to its ad- 
vantage. Time allotted is 50 min- 
utes for its run and pleasant going 
most of the way. 

Although three turns try comedy, 
hone of them make such , a strong 
stab at it. It's the show's only 
stagger, but there's enough enter- 
tainment strength lying around to 
make up. First comic on is Stan 
Lawson. 6 feet 7 inches tall. He 
takes a tumble into the ork pit right 
on the opening and makes the house 
believe he's going to do big things 
in -a comedy way, but it turns out his 
entrance is the bast part of the act. 
Second funny turn is Tom Gordon 
and Betty Smith, who do conven- 
tional recitations. Last act of comic 
texture is the Revelers, a two-girl- 
one-lad threesome. It's a rubs act 
but went over in. this house. 

Show opens with a modernistic 
girl number, which is costumed nice- 
ly. Scenery and clothes all through 
the show are very neat and attract- 
ive. Opener features Elizabeth 



INDEFATIGABLE CHARLIE 
Viennese Songs 
7 Mins. 

Hotel St. Regis, N. Y. 

'Indefatigable Charlie' is a curious 
billing for this young and person- 
able Viennese singer, an engaging 
young man whom the 'Maisonette 
Ruse of. the Hotel St Regis ballyhoos 
as 'one of King Edward s Entertain- 
ers,' predicated on a vogue with the 
former Prince of Wales when Charlie 
was in Paris and Monte Carlo. 

Charlie sings Viennese ballads in 
an engaging and pleasant little 
tenor, and leven if they're all in 
three-quarter time arid, in the 
German tongue, they're so charm- 
inely sold that Charlie gets over 
with anybody. The' 'indefatigable' 
part- comes from an infectious Bnd 
enthusiastic personality and a will- 
ingness to go on and on. but better 
judgment prevails and he does not 
overdo it and wear .out his- welcome. 

He's different and for a smart joint 
a pushover. Abel. 



DICE MERRILL (2) 
Talk 

12 Mins,, One 
Metropolitan, Boston 

Presented as an aviator and not as 
a vaudevillian, -with the able assist- 
ance of Roland Winters, Hub free r 
lance radio announcer, as inter- 
viewer; the Dick Merrill turn is com- 
mendable for its simplicity even 
though it lacks sock.' Flyer answers 
questions on technical aspects and 
some human interest angles,, always 
emphasizing what a swell guy Hany 
Richman is. 

The famous gasoline - incident is 
given a • oncerover-lightly by t)ie 
statement that after it was dumped 
the flyers had only, two hours' fuel 
left and that they were lucky to hit. 
land at all. Presumably that angle 
held most public interest. 

Merrill's voice ■ projects well 
through the p.a. system and his 
personality bespeaks a modest 
rather timid lad out of his element 
on stage. Winters' delivery is excel- .•> 
lent, laying off the gush and sticking 
to highlights of the flight. 

Both the dearth of trade on open- 
ing show and the audience reaction 
on the flyer's entrance indicated no 
hero worship; but the enthusiastic 
hand at the close of his turn seemed 
to show that the customers were 
pleased, if not excited. Fox.. 

DON CUMMINGS 
Rope Comedian. 
6 Mins. 

Rainbow Room, N, Y< 

Don Cummings is only new on a 
nite club floor. The roping comedian, 
since John Roy, managing director 
of the Rainbow Room, found that 
ping pbng players are good bbxoffice, 
even in a snooty nite club 65 floors 
up in Rockefeller Center, was 
booked in as a novely. The freakier 
the novelty, it's a good hunch that 
the better is its chances for clicking. 
The r.uth Aaroos-Sandor Glancz ' 
table tennisters proved that over the 
summer at this spot. 

Cummings is a -young, and person- • 
able gent. Nothing Willrogersesque 
or homey about his humor. He's in • 
tails and with an engaging front " * 
that's half his battle. The small- talk 
is cute and fets over. He does rope 
whirls and jumps thf6ugh the lariat 
rather amazingly, considering the 
slipi-eriness of the floor and his " 
starched-shirt costuming.' 

He's a bit of a novelty all right on 
a cafe floor, rind seems that the more 
fashionable the -environment the' 
better . ! the effect He'll fit in any- . 
wheres, however. Abel. - 

KEITH CLARK 
Magician 

5 Mins.. ' . . ,' 
Leon & Eddie's, NT. 

Despite his Anglo-Saxon name, 
Keith Clark is introed as Continental 
and spiels with a decided Gallic' 
flavor which' is good showmanship 
and color for his' clgaret and hand- 
kerchief predigistitation. He's a 
white , tie- and tails worker, person- 
able, arid commands attention for the 
c'igaret palming stuff, which is rather, 
familiar by now. ' \ 

The tricks with the knotted hand- • 
kerchiefs are more new hereabouts 
arid are enhanced by ^lark's studied 
mispronunciation of .'knots' as 'nuts.' 
There is some play .oh the word 
'nuts,' okay, for a- nitery. which is' 
supported by some really clever' 
manipulations of the knotted 'ker- 
chiefs. The pseudo-expose makes v 
for a nice and strong toprdff. 

Clark is. okay for any- type. nitery, 
and the classier the better. At Leon 

6 Eddie's he was: a big click. 

Abel. . 



EDNA ERRICO (1) 
Songs 

6 Mins. - 
Leon & Eddie's, N.T.' 

Edna Erricb is ajionventional mike 
songstress, ' hailed as from Chicago. ' 
She has a pidnist for her pops which, 
apart from being a bit specially ar- 
ranged, are of familiar pattern in- 
construction and delivery. Songs are 
'Shine,' 'You Let Me Down' and 
'Basin Street- Blues.' - .-»•- 

In the current scheme of things, in 
the niteries. Miss Errico makes a 
serviceable No. 2 act on the average 
layout. It's her Broadway debut 

Abel. . 



Graves, dancer. Pedro and Louie, 
hand and head balancers, come sec- 
ond and do well. The Lawson in- 
terlude with Bea Southern straight- 
ing, arid then comes Eetty (Boop) 
Smith, who does the cartoon kid's 
voice okay. Band follows a good 
gypsy number by the girls; it should 
change to some other tune than 
'Mama Don't Allow No Music' It's 
been here so often it "haunts the 
house. 

Dance of the powder puffs, a new 
slant on the old fan gag arid an ex- 
cuse to do a nude, allows Elizabeth 
Graves to bare her hocks arid do 
some spins. The Gordon-Smith com- 
edy and Ruth Morgan lead up to a 
wooden soldier routine by the line, 
Bca Southern does her feature num- 
ber, dancing while playing a violin, 
and it's well done. 

The Revelers retire after scoring 
with their cowbarn hokum and 
Pedro Morales does a slide for life 
on an inclined rope from the bal- 
cony. Closer js a cowgirl number. 



Featured in the finale are Betty 
Smith, Florence Drake (rope skip- 
per) and Lawson and Gordon. 

As a break between novelty- units 
of the circus type which so often 
come in on this time, the 'Follies' 
will be a hit. It should do average, 
or better all over the Cushman time.' 
Has a good bally stunt in the lobby 
with an illusion of a nude girl in a 
goldfish bowl. Business very gdod 
here. Barn. 



'Diggers' Plane Bally . 

Hollywood, Oct 6. 

Emulating the bally train ride of. 
'42nd Street,' in 1933, Warners has 
chartered a de luxe airplane to carry 
16 dancing gals from 'Golddiggers of 
1937' across the continent. Plane 
will hit the keys simultaneously with 
release of fllm. ' , 

Studio plans to cover the nation Im 
24 days. 



52 



VARIETY 



Wednesday, October 7, 1936 



' 



Vari 




Bills 



NEXT WEriK (OCT. 9) 
THIS WEEK (OCT. 2) 

Numerals in connection viith. bills below indicate opening, day of 
show»'.wn|th«rVfull [ or split w *pX'. .. ' , 




^BOSTON 
' *T.eltli* (8). 
Cuban Follies- • 
Mitchell & Durant 
Jansleys 

(1) 

'.Follow the Stara' 
Oliver &. Churchill 
Joan' Marsh 
, CHICAGO 
Palace (») 
.B7wpod Hotel Rev 
(2) •. 

SUontlris -.High . .. .• 
CLEVELAND 
Pnlftce (») - *■ 
Xuclyr Boys . , 



Virginia Bacon -Co. 
Johnny.' Porklns- ' 
SalicI PUppets - 
Alice Dawn 
(*) 

Noble Slsale Ore 
Pops & Louie 
Ella Mae. Waters 
COLtlMBCS: 
Palace (»).- .-. . 
Polfe Parislenno 

SCHENECTADY . 
■ Keith's (8-10) 
N'T'« Rev ■'■ 
TROT 
KeltbV (!>-18) 
Centennial Follies 




NEW Vork CITY 
* State (0) - 

Don L*e & L Rev 

Ftturiyboners 

Barbette - 

BoT)by Plncus 

Don Bed m on Oro- 
Grand (»-12» 

Smith & Ray nor. i 

Myra ' Nash 

Brown Se Ames ' 

Dick ,Don &"J» 

4 Comets 



BRIDGEPORT 
Majestic ..(»)• 
R Patterson's Co 
NORFOLK 
-. State (9) 
Major Bowta Bd 
WASHINGTON • 
Capitol <»> 
Bllda BalleU ' 
Nell Kelly ' 
Frank LIbusa . 
Prltchard St "ti 
Kitty Simon 
" 



DR. JULIAN SIEGEL 

.' DENTIST • 
Paramount. Bldg., 1641 Bway.-, Suite 203 
Telephone CHIekerlng 4-8007 



Paramount 



NEW, TORK CITS 
Paramount (7) 

XI » Madrlgueia, Co 
John Steel 
Mixlpe. Gray ■ 
Jerry .. Coa 
Ray & Trent 
HogUl 

- BOSTON . 
Metropolitan (•) . 
Davd Apollon Co 
-'^BUFFALO - • 
Buffalo. (0) 
MaJ -.-Bowes Ann Co 
CHICAGO 
Chicago (9) 
Eddie .Peabody 
Gloria' -Gilbert , 
DETROIT 
Michigan (9) , 
Howard & Sheldon 



3 .X Sis 
Morton Bowe' 
Snandor . 
Abbott & Tanner 
' MINNEAPOLIS 
Minnesota <9) ' 

.John Boles' 
Shooting High TI 

v . ';MDNTR*JEA'l> •'. 
Loew's (9) 

ReM ■s'kelton 
Gehe Kazlett 
Maxellos. 
Blame Arden 
Girl* 

Morton Downey 
TORONTO 
Shea's Hipp (9) 
Blackstone . 




Robt Naylor;- . 
TOTTENHAM 
Pulu'ee-. 
Musette Ore 
TOTTENHAM 
COURT ROAD 
" Paramount 
Andersen & Allen ' 



Michel & Hejb 
WALTHANSTO (V 

• Grenada- ' 
Mona Grey 
Levariota 
-Leslie & Lewis 




Week of .Oct. 5 



ABERDEEN 
/ Tlvoll 
Bell Bros & C'rmen 
Chester's -Dogs 

Percy V(»l- ■ . 

CARDIFF 
Capitol 
Billy Cotton . 
CLAPHAfll 
Grand - 
Jackson : Owen 
Jay &.Cullen . 
Anna Rogers ' •;■ 
hldttbury - 
Capitpl 
Bower & Hoth'rrrd 
ArconaS ' ' 
Feed Dosh 
Llpton's Debs 
EDINBURGH 

Regent - 
1st half (6-7 X. 
Avlls St Francis - 
..2d halt (8-.10) 
Leo Curtis 

ELTHAM 
:. Palace f 
Sylvester's- Nephews 
Bennett & WlllKms 
Florence* Oldham 
Clifton & Velette . 
FALMOUTH 
«nmr ' " . 
Archie Pitt, (So. . 
K &> J WInnon : 
CUR Marten. 
Wyn & Ivy 
Maudle Selkirk. 
Harry Moore' 
.Plerrotys • ; \ 
Roman* Troub'A'nrs 

FOLKSTONK 
•Pleasure Gardens 
Syd Seymour Bd 
Togo 

Klngsley St For'de 
Marlon Navarre ' 
Chevalier- Bros 
Brent & Layne 
Van Dock 

-GLASGOW 
. Paramount 
Snakehips Johnson ' 
Jamaica. Co • 
Valaida, ... 
Radollrte & Rodgers 



- . GLOUCESTER " 

D,e Luxe 
Ardaine SIS 
3 Calores' ' • 
Jack Stocks 
HOUNSLpW 
'Dominion 
Anna'' Rogers ' 
' KINGSTON 1 
Regal , 
Archie Jtfve- 3a,'/. 
Henry D Adams ■ 
,BUly ' Russell < 
6 Marvels .' . ... 
* IjeedS 

. Paramount- 
Alfredo Ore ' 

XKTTH . 
■••'■■• Capitol • 

- 1st' half <5t7) 
Leo Curtis. 

• V2d ;half (8-10> 
Avlis St Francis 
XJEEDS 
Paramonnt. . 
Alfredo -Ore; - '.' <■ 
MVJEKPOOf - 
L I-' PAiaiooeBt i ■, 
Harry TreyeT B6T 

Shakespeare 
Syd.Kyte Bd. . 
t'rank Gjroves v ' 
Southern" Sis ; '; " 
Angers ^'-Waller : 
Don Franolseo 
H Mitchell & Dad 
Walter.. Jackson 
, • MANCHESTER 
r : s-ParafSibTint 
/Radi» JteVelatlons' 
Ann Penn 
Ca.rlyle Cousins 
Jones & Thomas 
Bennett & McN 
Gordon Ray Gla 
Terr y's J uvea ' " 
' NEWCASTLE 
-* Paramonnt. 
'Songs from Films' 
;. YARMOUTH 
' Re gal. • 
Geo Lacy 
Katz Sax' «' 
Beebe°& Rene 
Carsons . 




NEW YORK XJITY 



READING: . . 
Astor (0)- 

Ina, R Hutton- Ore 
Frank' & P Trado 
Margie Palm 

- 

Don Bestbr Opor 



* WASHINGTON 
Eaele (ft) - 

Red Nichols Oro 
•• C2) 

Barbette 

Vox Sc Walters 

C'mpbell's. Royalists. 

Paul Draper 




CHICAGO 
... Chicago (10) 
Paul Nolan Co 
Bo BrummelB 
3 Marvels 
-ifred Allen's Stars 
James Alexander ■• 
COLORADO SP'GS. 
^ *'«J(eJ0.I0) 
Follies . D'Amotir 
GREELEY,. COI.Q. 

Hterilng (13) 
Follies D'Amour: .. 



INDIANAPOLIS 
Itfrlc <9) 

Ted Lewis Bd 
Radio Aces 
Edna Strong 
Noscha 

Snowball Whlttler 
KANSAS CITK, MO' 

■ Tower (ft) 
Bud & Buddies- 
■Perry Corwey ' 
Ward & Mllford 
P.UEBI/O.' COLO. 
Main <l!i) 
Follies D'Amour 



London 



Week of Oct 5 



Canterbury M. H. 
. 1st Jinlf (5-7) 
\ Eostern Bros 
' Bernard! 

2rt hnlf (R-101 
Renee & Godfrey 
Gus Kltori 

Dominion 
TrolKfr Mandollere 
New VIotoHa 
1 Ra\ylc2 & Lainlnuer 
CKADWELL H'TH 

Pala-e 
Be&tn'R Baben. . 
CHEI^EA ' 
Palace'' 
Trolw Mniiilollers . 
CLAPTON 
Rlnk 
' Musolto O-c ! 
BAST HAM 
•'. Premier ' 
. Beam's:. Babes ; 
EDGTVARE ROAD 

' Grand 
HarvnrtT Bovs • . 
EDMONTON 
Empire i 
Mona Gr^.. 
Levnnda. .' ' 
Leslie & Lewi's ■ 
HAAlMERSlUTfl.v 
pnlnce , 
Dave' Poole 
Frescd & ^Ampo ' . 
Mills Bros.',, . .. . 
HOM-OWAY; 
^rMfO^'UKKS 
Morris. &,,i:pwley - L .- w 

1LVORD 
Huner 
f Elliotts 



ISLINGTON 
Bine HnU 

^st half ;«-7) 
Renee' & Godfrey 
Gus Elton . ' 

2d half (K-10) 
Eastern Bros 
Bernard I 

KILBXRN 
.Gmnce 
•Harold Boj-h 
XBWIRHAM 
•• Palrtcn 
Al Pamllcv S. 
1EYTOXSTONE 
Blclto 
Roulette 3 
Lee Donn . 
. NEW CROSS 

''KMenwi ■ i 
3, Edmund B.ov a 
' PECKHAM 
Palarp 
3 Edmnnd Bnvs 
SHEPH'RDS Bl'SII 

' • .'Palace 
P & M Honrl 
STAMFORD II IM. 

...Regent .. 
Morris .& Cowley' 
.Ma¥' *. nnrl 1 " '■ 
... .STRE.ATH.VH 

. PnlAfe,r 
. , rterlJ's , & 'LVdla 
.Serge- Krtrth - Ore '• 
Robt Naylor,, ■< 
' ' •tSTRATrORII " 
i' :'-'Broa'dtrny > »»Vi. 

^■.noto 

GranncLv' il • 
Serge Krish Oro 
Gerlys & Lydla 



Bill's Gay 90's 

Jerry Wh'lte ; 
Joseph B. Howard 
Arthur Behlm 
Bill. Lorraine, 
-fci 'Furfhari . . 
ether Gilbert 
Frank Russell 
Bob Blgelow 
Larry T.ee 

Club Guncho 
Dlmltri & Virgil 
Carlotta Montez 
Nanette Vallon 
Lite & Mengol 
Marg.uerjta-Cueto 
Gloria A Ivor 
Ramon CaltOsco A. 
Gauchos 

Coq> Rouge 
Irwin Gilbert. 'Oro . 
Tlsdale 2 

, Cotton Club- 
Bill Robinson 
Ayls Andrews ■ 
Birry Bros — 
Kalpah 

Henri Wessel,s. 
Kathertn'e Perry 
Anne . LeivJs . 
Dynamite Hooker 
Tramp Bd 
Whyle'H Mpnlacs 
Rrondwfty Jones 
Wen Talbei t's Choir 
Bahama Dancers 
Arthur Davy Oro. 
Cab. Calloway Oro 

•Inck Dempsey'i 

Eddln Elklns Ore 
Agnes Andersons 

Gl Clileo 

Del Ann Vera 
Mona- Montes-' 
Dolores & Candlrto 
Roslta Rlos 
Xios Ilavanernn 
Don Alberto Ore ■ 
ABC Trio 

El Moniocn 
Brnle Hotat Oro 

, EI Titreailor ' 
Los O.ledas 
Don (11 Iberia Ore 

Freprh Casino 

'Folles O'Amour' 
Anno l.lse '< 
Blly Ardelty-' • *'■ 
Ballet Bodeivu'lser 
Bnrry.ft Bentrlcp 
rbolyka Zilzcr ■ 
Drejm- • ■ ■ 

Olhsoji Co' ., 
1 Oenfln' Glenn . ' " ' 
ICoubek 

Meriorcns . ; . 

Rona' Itl.i't'.iirto 
•llnrla Tnihnfa 
Tnnlel 
■.li'lnccpmla 

Tyber 

.Lou <BrIng Ore •'• 
''' lliik'ory lltiuW' ' 

'(illltes'-niley - i' 

,'Pd F.qrley ' ' 

; n'l>\*'il Iteslnurani 

•Harry Rlelitunn 
Jack Wn Id t-oii 
Irla Adt'laa 



Hotel Plata 

Eddy jDuchln Ore 
De Marcos 

Hotel Roosevelt 
'Guy Lotrtbktdo Ore 
Hotel Blts-fJar Ifon 
Armaq Vecsey Ore 
Hotel SaTOy-Plaw 

Dwlght FIske 
Emile Petti Ore ' 
Elabaneras Oro 

Hotel Shefton 
Bert Dares' Oro* 
Hotel St. Merit i : 

Marlanne ; ':'' • ' 
Joyce Colea 
Guldo Zanette. ' . . 
Charlie: Wflght 
Ron Perry Oro . 
iflotei. 8t.jBeirla ; 
(Maisonette' Basse) 

Olga/Vadlna - 
Charlie 

Boris Belostozky 
George Orda 
Tasha Jfazflrenk<>. - 
Agnes Roy - 
Sultan Mepaako . 
Peter Liachenko ' 
C.Codolban Oro.. - 

(Iridium Boom) 

Emtl Coleman Or . 
Mrs A C Forbes 

Hotel Toft 

Geo. .Hall Oro 
Dolly Dswii; 
Hotel Waldorf* 
Astoria 

Michael Zarln Oro 
Hugtr Marlanl Oro 
XretchmA y 

Simeon Ka'ravaefC 
D'ortai'-Blrso* 
Tllena Qabrlelle 
MlchAel Mlchon- 
NSdla • ' ■ 
A 'Stoyanpvslcy 
Mlscha 

S BartnoVBlry • 
Nicholas Mattley Or 

Le Mirage -. 
Prances' Maddux 
La^Boe 

Joseph Zatour Ore 
Leon A Kfldle'e 
Eddie Davis ■ ■ 

Zee-Zee 
Jal-Leta 
KeitH Clara 
Edna. Errlca 
Joyce Sc. Freddie 
Delia Carroll 
Rubber Legs Wit-; 

Hams 
Wm l^armer's Oro 
Sophisticates Oro 

> Mon Paris 
Chick Endor 



Charlie Farrell i ' 

Versatile .3 

Gene Fosdlclc' Oro" 

; . Ooyx Club 
3tuR SiBltb Bd 

HA^adlse, 
Bert Frobman 
V»rjrlnla- Verrlli 
JijUe*'Jeiincr 
Estelle & LeRny 
Jimmy Richards • 
J & Nora Bell 
Mario Hollls 
Joyce Duskln 
Jants -Andre ■ •' 1 
Edna Mae- 
Jay Freeman: Oro : 

Place ' KJIegnnle '.' 
Internationalists Oi 
B1U Farrell 
Franfe Lasaro . 
Orlo Tomasso 
Marlo< Baune 
Rex -Gavltte • 

Rainbow Grill 
Johnny Hamp Ore 

Rainbow Room 
-JBay NoW* Ore 
Sheila Barrett .. 
Gomez ft Wlnonl 
Don Cummlngs 
Al -Bowlly 
Sydney Ross 
Bvajyn Tyner. . 
Nan'o Rodrlgo Bd 

Riviera 

Irene Beasley 

>Barto- & Mann 

Edith Roafk • 

Cardlnl 

3 Wiles * ' 

Ralph Watklns Ore 

Stork nub 
.Max- Berger Oro 

Gladys Rentier Rev 
■Kaiser Williams Or 
Versailles 

Benny Fields 
Gall Gall 

Mead'owbrnok Boys 
Clemante -Ed • , 
Village Barn > 

Larry McMahon 
Milt Mann Oro 
Serranho's 
Helen .Miller 
Zeb Carver Co 

" Vogue 

Gordon Davie 
Mary Roan > 
Jlmmte -Lee , 
Kearns & Reed ( . 

Yacht Club / 

Red McKenzle Bd . 
Nan Blackstone " 
Floria- Vestoft • 
Tracy Gale & ■ L 
3 Peppers 
Baby - White - 



LOS ANGELES 



Nina Olivette 
Murray. & King 
.Edna S.edgewlck 
Joan Merrill 
Lydo. Sue 
Jean Landls 
■Marlon Martin ' 
Del, Casino . / 
Archie Bleyer Ore 
Arthur Warren Ore 

Hotel Ambassador 

Val Qlman Ore' , 

Hotel Aster , . 

Vincent Lopez Oro . 
Beau y el & Tova !. 
Fred Lowery 
Gloria Whitney • 
Stanley Worth • 
Robert. Ly tell* . : 

Hotel Blltmnre 

Rtjss Morgan Ore 
nilano 

Motel Commodore 
Mai Halletf Ore ■' 
Emily Van Loesen 
Paul Duke 
Paul Gordon 
Maurlne & Nova 
.Hotel Edison. ,. 

Bobby Hayes Ore 
Gypsy Lee 
Ralph* Torres 
Jane- Dover 
Lou Va'lera .' 

Ilotel Essex Hon«c 

N. Brandewynne Or 
Maxlne Tappln 
Dick Sttme 
Claire Eujenle 

Hotel Firth Are 

P Handelman' Oro 
Hotel Governor . 
Clinton 

H McDanlel's oVc 4 

Hotel Lexlugtn'n 

Ozzle Nelson. Ore 
Shirley . L.lfty.d 

Hotel Lincoln 

Dick Stabile Ore 
Hotel MrAJpln 

Enoch Light Ore 
Beth Wilson 
A Gnn:>fllep Kn.« 
. ..Hotel •.M.QptrliiU.;.., 
Coral Islnndere 
Hal Hope' Oro 

Hotel . New Torkrt 

WU1' Hollander Or- 
Fr'a'ftk 'Besslngfr ' 
•WJ11 Osborne (Ore • 
,Dick &. D. Rogers •. 
'\ Rllythm Gent's' : 
3 Randa'll -SW : ." 
Manya & Drlgo 
Bill Steele-,^ .,- 

Hotel pi*R ,Ce*i!m»,i 

; ,Tlc, Toci. Girls j ■ . , 
Dlck'MeSshor Ore ' 

itoteT 'PenniiyifviirilH 

Benny' G'dortmafi *Sd : 
BernDardi'AiariiH'mr 
Hel ? n , < >; Rl :*. 1 K'r a-j 

Hotel Pierre 
Basil Fomeen Ore 



BaU - 
Bruz Fletcher . 
Charles' Morris 

Beverly Wllsblre 
Viola 'Von 
Larry' Lee Oro 
BUtmore ' Bowl 

Moore' & Revel 
Prosper- & Maret- - 
Ruth Durrell 
Bliss, Lewis St Asb 
Harry Foster 
Red Harper 
Trudy Wood 
& Rhythm Rascals 
Jlnuoy Grler Oro 

• Bine Room 

■Naomi Warner 
LaFa'yette St LaV 
Claude &-C Stroud' 
.Ruth Petty 
Jimmy Blttlck Ore 
Cufe Casanova 

Billy Gray- 
Jerry- Bergen . ' 
Irepe. Taylor 
The Theodoras 
Jack Williams 
Hal ' Cbanslor Ore 

- Cafp do' P»r*e 

Marlon Jackson 
.Cooks Dance Team 
l'urlsian Follies 
Harvey & Warner 
Jack Clawaon pro 

Cafe '!» . Hate 
'Park AV6' Boys' 
Stan. Clair Oro 
Clover Clnb 

Illomay Bailey 
Ramon & Renlta 
I>ee iSlms 
Bob Grant Oro 

«'oc«nn,nt Grove 
Jan Oarber Ore 
XJower St. Jeanne 
Dorotliy Gray 
jderge Tekar 
Sutichle at - Buckley 

( lounge) . 
I.ee 1 Pore 
Bill Roberts .. 

• El Mlrador 
Gnsnoji & Bc'ught'n 
J Cappo & Knlglu 
Tiny Hogan 
Walter Wings Ore 
<- ESquIre Clnb 

. Dawn Merydith 
Ki Rennie •& P Rlat 
Debutantes Ore 
" Fnmous llnnr 
Sylvester Scott 
1'Yh ocee Fay 



Candy St Coco 
Tommy Riley 
TOny Yanls 
- Jane Jones' 
Little Clnb 
Jane Jones - 
Gladys Bagwell • 
Helen Warner'- 
Frank Gallagher ' 
Jeanne Keller 

Melody Grill . 
Charles Bourne 
Omar's Dome 

Marjorle Mllward 
Kathleen Miller 
Qalahte & Leonardo 
Kearney Walton Or 
-Pacific Sonset Club 

Gypsy Glenn ■ ■ 
Carmen Felt 
Millie. Gray 
Tommie Jones 
Wayne -Wise Oro 

PnTflmar 
Judy Janls 
Bobby Harrison 
Alicia -Caronl St T 
Hudson Metzger GIs 
Phil Harris Oro 
Paris Inn ■ 
Qulntas St Mona 
Rudy La Toko a 
Margarita & Del Rio 
Henry Monnet 
Hugo Marchettl 
Thora Malthalson 
Dominic Colombo 
Kiml.Fugl 
Yvonne St. Claire . 
Elaine & J DeVere- 
POte Gohtrelll Ore 

'. ■ Pirrone's ■ 
Murray. Peck 
Bonnie LInd 
Wyllo Webb Ore 

Seven Sens 
Lily Gibson 
CharJta Alden 
LounJo Mclntlre Or 

Topsy'e 
Marjorle -Spark* ,- 
Bernlce Tarrlngton 
Betty Case '' ' 
Emily Wlnsette ' 
Arnold Sis 
Leon Rice 
Agnea Johnson 
Bill Fleck pic 
Trocmlero 
Phil Ohmin Oro " 
Georgio Tapps 

U-Gehe's 
Barbara Bach 



Willie Shore 
Dorothy May 

Hotel Blsmarch 
(Walnut Boom) 

Ted & MaTy Taft 
Grotchen Lee . •■ 
Phil LeYant - Ore 

Hotel Congress 

Connie Boswcll 
Enrico & Novello 

Hotel Drake 
(Silver forest) 

Pat O'Malley-?' 
Ray Campbell 
Gower St Gene 
Dick Jurgens Ore 
Hotel Edgewater - 
Benrhr 
(Bencb. Walk) 
Crawford. A Ca'skey 
Mickey Braatz 
Van Collo St Mary 
Bernle Cummlna Or 

^ hotel LasaUe ' ^ 
(Bloe Fountain'- 
Room) '""■ 

Bob McGrew Oro 
Hotel Morrison 
(Terrace Room) 
J & E Torrence 
Ted Flo-Rlto • 
Janls Williams 
Jackie Green -. 
Muzay' Marcelllno 
Stanley, Hickman- ;-' 
3 Debutantes 
Titan 3 

Hotel Palmer House 
. (Empire Room*' 
Little .Jack Little . 
Raoul & Eva' Reyes 
Ruth 'Aor'ons 
Sandor Glancz . . 
L.ester. Cole , . 
Paul Rosinl 



Pale Wlnthrop 
Abbott Dancers 
. Hotel. Sherman 
(College Inn) 

George Glvot: 
Gertrndo HotEman 
Calgary Bros ■ 
The Nagyfys 
Harriett DeGoff ' 
Rufe DavlB ■ 
4 Rhythm Girls 
Speck & Spick 

Hotel Stevens 
.(Continental Boom) 
Gary Leon 
Serge Plcar 
Marcla Mace 
Xavler Cugat 
Keith -Beecher Oro 

P«rody_ Club 

Phil Kaye" 
Molly: Manors 
Marsha Bennett 
Bobbie Clark , 
Henry Simmons'-. ". 
Freddy* Janla OTo ' 

Vanity Fair 
Eleanor Leonard 
Jerry O'Dell 
Danny Alvin pro 

Via Logo 
Arturo 'St Evelyn 
Buddy Ralph 
Stan Carter 

Yacht Clob 

Keller Sls,< & L 
Johnny -Wejls ■ . , 
June St, Clair 
Miokey Braatz 
Paul Olseni 
Nln,o "Rlnnldo, Oro. ' 

US tlvb 
' Carroll &' Gorman 
Mnrle.. Alvarez . 
Susana, Cantu 
Ramon Arias Oio 



.1--. 



which Was a long time then. Bill 
also offered Gertrude Hoffman, Lea 
Carrillo, Edfith Talliaferro and strong 
support, } ■ ^ 

Ad<ilph ^ukior declared the time 
had come when .features . musti be 
fitted to a theatre's clientele. Just 
pictures no longer drew. . Pointed to 
the ftop of a W. ,S., Hart feature at 
the Riyoli. and opined it would have 
done much- better. at the' JUaito. ' 



Theda' Bara ,was getting $5,500 at 
Loew's, Glevefand, and. not so hot 
Paul Whiteman's. band: was only 
drawing $2;50f>-$3;000; but he wasn't 
a vamp. 



-'He&rst shut , down' pr^bduciidn at 
Cosmopolitan 'to*'catcb>''up on releases. 
Had 11 on the shelf, representing 
more than -$2,000,000. Releasing 
through Paramount. 



Anchorage -Inn 

Milton Kellem Oro 

Arcadia Iht'I 

Wayne King Oro 
Phtl Stua*t T 
Barbara Blane - 
Rita Lester V 
Manya & Drlgo *, 
»* > »*. - 

Bellevne-Stratford* 

(Planet Boom) 
Meyer Davis Ore 
Ben. Franbllri Hotel 

(Georgi«« Boom-) 
Moq- Jafle Ore*--|.; 

Benny the Bom's 

3 Octaves 
Isabella Rook. 
Job .Tobln 
Dotty 'Mblllnson" 

Colony Club 

George Clifford 
Jay ~King 
Helen Benton 

Embassy 'Clnb 

Marlon Bergeron . 
Jeanne Kelly 
Ray Stiles. 
Ann Stephens 
Monkey Shiners 
.'■ \ 1523 Locust 
-Bubbles Shelby 
Grace Manners 
Florence' Hallmad . 
Randall Sis 
Ann Rush 
Mary. Hubbard 
Grace Brlscome ' ■ 
Little Erny 
3: Kings' 
4 Horsemen. Club 
Barney Zeemon Ore 
Jerry Blanchard 
•Nlla Taylor 
Marlon Klngsley 
Tad & Sally 

Frank Patunibo's 

George Reed 
AHce^ Lucey ' ' 
Ben Perry 
Mltzl Groff ' 
Pablo 

Dorothea Dome 
Barblerl & Carllta 
Je.H-«e AltmllTer. 
3 Nelfs ■*< 
Bobby .Morro Ore 
Hotel Adelphla ' 
(Cafe Maigaery) 

Harold Knight Ore 
Vincent -Rlzzo Ore 
Ross McLean 
Violet Love 
■Capert'n & Col'mb's 
■Stanley . Fields 
Ann' Slgman 
Radio.' Ramblers- 
Jean McCulley 
Evan B Fontaine 
Dmltrl-Karel-A 
Agnes Tolle- 



CHICAgO 

Ulackliawk' 

Roma Vincent 
-.IIMne 

B. & R -Ambrop-j 
Louis Prima Ore 



Chez ■ Puree 

•Tlmmle . Savo 
Georges Met'axo 
;:endlnger 2 
Hetty- Bruce ' 
Henry Busse Ore 
'— tJInb" AlrtbTlro 

Virginia James 
. EiHp Burton 

Hernard St. Henry . 

.tlllllcept DeWIlt 

An WllLlnmx Wrc'- 
Cliih ttllnnft ■'.' 

Delores. i • -.' 

Buddy Lester 
.Bobble Matltfs - 

SirllJd .Joyce :' , • 
.Adeline, Dossena .. 

Jerry^ Glfddeh Pic ' 
'C'iiloiriy flub " ' 

"'Ahri'Bey'mdue"" " 
.BclvA.' White , 
•Rjuier, Sis : '. . . . 
'fYaUftV Hyertf 4 ^ 
il>nulctl-i LuPlMT'e ^' 
JaL'k J F^chn^nn,.prc. 

Colostmn'* 
Rocky Ellsworth 



Leo Young 
Stefnno & Sernna 
Bohh 3- ■ ■ 
Doris Strickland . 
Alice Denvlt 
Rose'Ann 
Ray Dixon •■ 
.Herbie. Redcll. . 

Gny ftft's 

Henri Keats Oro' 
Joan Clark 
Sktppy & Marie ' 
Colleep . • • 
Geo De Costa . 
.Lew King 

Grand Terrnre 

..Fle.lc'r Hond'son Or, 

Harry's N. . S. 
Cnburet '. 

Tex Morrispey 
•Ilnn'li the 'Mule' 
"Hvette- 

.Eddie.Frey. .• 
'Wnndn. Kny 
•Detnillly^ Jultiiaton '= 
SinnJey^Oglp^v .. ^ 
Billy Mevers ' . 
•A? Wagner 1 ' ■ 
Art, Ruckle*:,' :•' •■ ;'. 
Austin Ma^ck. pre . 

' '.ill-Hot ' 

Joan Abbott 



PHILADELPHIA 

Hotei Phlladel^hran 
- (Mirror Boom) 

Joe Frasptto Qro 
Harry Hatta 
Adelaide Joy 
Elaine & Harry ,. 
:Mlr>pr Room Dolls 
tliookwells - ■< • ' 
^Allee' BftbertB, . y, . 
Bltz-Carfton ' ' 
^Crystal Boom) . 
Van . Levis ' Oro ', 

/Boot Pierre : .''.-' 
Pat Shevlln' Oro 
3 Jacks 

Bill Burcaw . , 
Virginia Lee 
Lorene Rhoda . 
A Sansom House 

Irwin Leonard Oro' 
Silver Lake Inn 
(Clementon) 

Mickey Famllant Or 
Beth- Chains ' 
Barbara- Ray ' 
Barbara Bellmore 
1814 Sprnce 

Freddie Parelss Ore 
3 Racket Cheers 
Lee Bartell 
Jimmy Blake 
Jean Dell 
Melba Beaudraux 

20th Cent'ry Tavern 

Bobby Bernard 
Ozzle Wells 
BUI Bailey 
Llla Gaynes 
Troy 'St Gretchea 
3 Esquires 
Bllhore Sten Oro 
■ Ubangt Clnb . 
Frankle- Fairfax Or 
Johnny Hudgina 
Dojnne Lyons ' 
McLane So Ross' 
Ida James 
Mack St Mack 
Son I a 
3. Drifters 
Alberta Prime 
Milton MurdocK 
- Walton Roof 
Leo Zolio Ore' 
Ray Parker 
Gaby Leslie 
Julia Gerrlty 

Weber's Hofbrao 
(Camden) 

Louis Chaiklo Ore 
Eldoradians 
Marino St Mona 
Bob Allen 
Gregory Quinn 
John - ROthaDg 
Elea Hart 
Sidney Golden 
Carmen d' Antonio 
Joe Romono > 
Yorktown Tavern 
Bill Bllger Ore 



15 YEARS AGO 

(.From Variety and Clipper) 



N. Y. State Board of Censorship 
running short of funds. Was taking 
the' state's $40,000 appropriation in 
addition to fees, but still in need: 



Reported the Qberamergau Pas- 
sion Play would be 'filmed. Idea was 
to promote German films, abroad, but 
deal fell through. 



Producers, were threatening to quit 
Los Angeles because of the strictness 
of local censorship. Still there and 
still threatening. 



. Shuberts put Marie Dressier in for 
headline in its vaude shows. Doing 
bits from Winter Garden, including 
the burlesque of the Barrymor.e with 
the plump star as Ethel.' A knocker- 
outer. , . 



. Irene Bordoni trying out a new 
ait wi,th Leon Varvarra. Singing 'My 
Man' , in Fretich in . opposition to 
Fannie /Brice's English version! . 



Cdlonial,. N. Y, ; had a . new man- 
ager arid once more the gallery., was 
put of ..hand.. Tough mob ..hurt; th$ 
enjoyment ."'.of.,! the', better^ payi'qe 

client?. '.-,;. . ; • , ;. . v ' 

Paul /Whi'tenian doing' hii' .first 
vauile date at the Palace,' N. V.,' and 
over in a big way* JDid 32 minutes, 



• t^yerhm.enjt '/ quashed .' ' its case 
against. Consolidated^ Music and star, 
pubs iot ^alleged .. restraint of trade. 
Basket,, on ^n alleged attempt f o' con> 
trol music .rollsi \ Deal Was not put 
througn, so' case "was ' dropped after 
a .year in. i 



50 YEARS AGO 

(Frdiii Clipper) 



E^.E. Rice staged a •■triumph'. for 
Henry. JL. Dixey -when the extrava- 
ganza opened ii; Boston following its 
English: tour, .Band serenades and 
all that. ,:.A11. paid ..if pr, . but convinc- 
ing. -, .- . 



Sheriff's jury -declared Bartley 
Campbell a lunatic^ and ordered his) 
commitment. ,He was already in 
Bloomihgdale.- 



•Vr.. 



Companj*- formed to erect, a pano- 
rama building. on the site of. Harri- 
gan & Hart's old theatre, which had 
burned.- . ,To .be called - 'Old London 
Streets,* with panoramic paintings 
to . conform *to the: title. Never did 
very well and eventually converted 
into a garage for Wanamaker store* 

Minneapolis exposition ran sue. 
weeks to a to.tal take of , $75,000, but 
that, was in the black.. 



Mammoth Cave, Ky. ( ha4- & dra- 
matic show, in one of the caverns. 
Improvised, stage held a comedy for 
one performance. . Staged, by the 
hotel run in connection with the 
caverns. 



Museum, attraction was a Negro 
five years old who could read any 
printed matter offered her. Claimed 
she had never had a lesson. ^ 

• Two one-ring circuses playing in 
St. Louis in the same city block and 
it took a force of police to prevent . 
a clem. Both d^ihg biz. 

'Burr ' Oaks' was playing a N. Y. 
theatre. About the third, year the 
piece had been touring with from 
one to three companies and gen- 
erally in financial straits, but it 
seemed somehow to stick.. - 



Clara Morris was playing in spite 
of illness, and taking medicine ' in 
full view, of the audience. They 
seemed to approve the novelty. 



Lily iLangtry began her third 
American tour at- the 5th Av. Oct. 5. 
Even Clipper admitted she ' was 
learning to act. Her voice was bet* 
ter placed and her gesturing easier. 



African Opera' Co. played Pitts- 
burgh. Dressing rooms inadequate 
and two floors of ah adjacent hotel 
taken, with a bridge across an alley 
to the theatre. 



Robson and Crane switched from 
'Comedy of Errors* to 'Merry Wives 
of- Windsor.' Crane's Falstaff was 
the outstanding- hit. Robson was 
slender -and not much in the picture. 



Independent Burlesque 

Week of~7)ct. 11 . 

'Steppln' 3tovn'— Gayety, Minneapolis. 

'Scan-Tees' — Rlnlto, Chicago. 
• 'Ballyhoo'— Open. ' 

'Wine, Woman' and Song" — Gayety, 
Buffalo. .. . 

'Hl-Flyera' — Lyric, Allentown, Mon.- 
Tues. ; Majestic, Harrlsburg, . Wed.: 
CapltOl, Reading, Thurs.-Frl.; Majestic, 
Wllllamsport, Sat.' 

'Hindu Belles'— Troc. Philadelphia. 



. Ilfayety tilrl^T— Hudson, Union City. 
'Red Rlvyl-hrii'-^.Jacnues, Waterbury. 
'Babes of B'wny' — Howard. Boston. 
'Bea-uty Parade' — Empire, iNework. 
'Ton Hot. for Paris' — Gayety'. Wash- 
ington. 

■Red Hot'— Gayt-ty,- Baltimore. '' 

'Vnnltensers'r-T-Roxy, . Cleveland. • • < f 

'Dizzy Dnin'eS' — Capitol, Toledo. 

'Scan-Dolls' — Avenue, Detroit. 
> 'Garden., of.' WIi'Ih'— Miles Roy*l.' Akronj 

■'Morten niul Models'— Garrlelf, St. Louis. . 

'Ha-'C'Xa'-^B in press, Kansas City. 

'Sl>ecd . and Sparkle'-^CaVInO, rltts- 
burgh. . • ■ ., -,< . .« , 

'Speed and flpnrkle' — Princess, Youngs- 
town (3 days). 

'Swing GUIs' — Worcester, Worcester. 



Wednesday, October 7, 1936 



LEGITIMATE 







'Jumbo Disintegrates Into 50-Cent 
Circus; Texas Date Another Hop, 
Ran Show $30,000 Further Into Red 



•' Inglorious washing up of 'Jumbo* 
•. was marked' last week when the 
production was brought back from 
-Ft. Worth, Texas, and : placed in 
storage. "■ It ' may .never be used 

• again.' Announced plans to- tour the 
show,, which: opened .with much 

-promise: at the Hippodrome, N. Y., 
•last season, are off, and whatever 
*reinained-of 'the original talent set- 
•up after the Texas debacle has dis- 
•integrated. 

- 'Jumbo' lost approximately $30,000 
. oh the Ft, Worth date. While that 
■ suni is. not chargeable to the pro- 
'dtiction cost*, sihce the attraction was 
guaranteed against loss, it ups the 
.show's actual red to $220,000. When 
tKg show closed' at the Hipp ; it was 
figured to be $190,000. on the wrong 
side Of the .ledger, 1 although it 
earned, more than $100,000 in opera- 
tion. ■ ' .' 

:. jjumbo' backers, principally the 
John Hay' (Jock). Whitney group 
, and Herbert Bayard Swope, were 
sold on the Ft. Worth celebration 
date which Billy Rose claimed an 
advance cleanup. Whitney had a rep- 
resentative On hand to protect his 
interest, but there never was any 
melon to be sliced. 
x Flop in Texas wbb not entirely the 
yiinibo'. management's fault! Thea- 
tre was wrong on acoustics and no 

• way was figured to" enable the cus- 
tomers to hear 'dialog. For that rea- 
son the plot was ditched soon after 
•opening and the actors let out were 
-glad to . get away . because of the 
'heat. Those who came back last 
'Week declare that the thermometer 
was ! as high as 132 degrees in the 
/afternoons and the interior of the 
.theater hotter than that in the 
evenings. . - 

When the dialog was dropped 
; 'Jumbo' became little more than a 
one-ring circus. There are some 
acts still in Ft. Worth, playing as a 
50c circus just to keep the house 
lighted. " 

One" section of the show is the 
Allen K. Foster girl group, plus the 
•horses, now in his possession. Foster 
intends booking the routines as an 
' set. His part of the show cost about 
$14,000. 

WHEN IS A QUOTE NOT 
A QUOTE?— GARLAND'S 

Beaucoup annoyance on Broadway 
last week when there appeared a 
tow column splurge ad on English 
meller, 'Love From a Stranger,' 
with a heavily underlined quote 
from Robert' Garland to the effect 
it's the 'first real hit of the new 
season.' Garland is no longer a 
drama critic and had merely given 
wat opinion to someone in Alex 
• Yokel's . off ice on his own, it was 
explained, though copy did not 
•claim it as an official, opinion and 
. hot using the name of his news- 
Paper in connection. Both the 
N. Y. American, of which he is 
now film critic, and the N. Y. World- 
Telegram, of which he was drama 
critic until fired about five weeks 
ago, squawked, with the Yokel office 
pulling the ads and relying on actual 
critical quotes thereafter. 

Garland's excuse is that he was 
**ed what he thought, so he replied. 
'You've got to be polite, don't you?' 
he pointed out. 

Garland also offered a gratuitous 
Quote on 'White Horse Inn' last week 
D «t management passed it up. It 
«me after Douglas Gilbert, his suc- 
cor as dramatic critic bn the 
World-Telly, had panned 'Inn,' the 
' 1 °ne dissenting notice. 

| DETROIT GUILD SEED 

:'•' Detroit, Oct. 6. 
oenes of six plays will launch the- 
-.WW festival of the Artisan Guild 

Nov^i °' C *' 13 a " d running throu £h 
, Guild recently completed a ten- 
week summer season at Charlevoix, 
■Michigan summer resort. Carl B. 
«artwicke remains 'as director. 



The Col.- Knows 



Col. Jacob Ruppert "was prop- 
• ositioned to use space on the 
. Center, N. Y M which opened 
with .'White Horse t lhn* last 
. week, ' to advertise his beer. 
Management's idea was to get 
$15,000 on the line in advance, 
While' Ruppert could see noth- 
ing but a weekly rate deal. He 
< was told the show was stu- 
pendous, colossal and- so on. To 
. which he replied: 

'Yeh? Did you ever hear of 
. "Jumbo".?' - ■ 





er 



In Commish Suit 



Fannie Brice's attorney, Julian T. 
Abeles, has" retained former Mayor 
Joseph V. McKee as special counsel 
to represent the comedienne in Edgar 
Allen's $14,250 commission suit. Lat- 
ter examined'' the star of the current 
'Ziegfeld Follies' at the Winter Gar- 
den, N. Y. r before trial last week in 
City Court, but has another action 
for the larger amount pending in Su- 
preme Court. Lower court claim is 
for only $2,000, and the Issues will 

determine, res adjudicate — i. e., with- 
out further trial — the larger amount. 

Hence the importance of trial 
counsel in the $2,000 claim. It's not 
a jury, trial in the City Court, but, if 
and When the case goes to the Su- 
preme Coiurt, it will have a jury. 

Miss Brice has a check endorsed to 
Allen, marked paid in full, for $500 
in alleged full settlement of all 
claims. Allen concededly made some 
suggestions to herself and Billy Rose, 
her husband, but it is denied that 
he's entitled to 10% for suggesting or 
securing the ShubVrt 'Follies' en- 
gagement. 

Miss Brice appeared Friday (2) in 
the N. Y. Supreme Court to be ex- 
amined before trial of Allen's action. 
She was anything but a pleasing 
little 'snooks' while undergoing ex- 
amination at the hands of Allen's at- 
torney, Bernard. Sandler. 

'Isn't it a fact that Allen hired 
Dave Freedman to write some of 
your script for the show?' Sandler 
asked her. 

'I'll punch him jn the nose if he 
said that,' Miss Brice shouted, glaring 
at Allen. 

Miss Brice's indirect answers to 
Sandler's questions brought on nu- 
merous arguments between the at- 
torneys, in which both the actress 
and Allen joined until Sandler re- 
framed this question. * 

Sandler put the same question to 
Miss Brice several times until she 
finally cracked petulantly; 'I don't 
see how that man can ask the same 
auestion in so many different ways, 
I wish I could do that with some of 
my jokes.' She finally answered the 
question with a denial, She also de- 
nied all material questions put to her 
by Sandler. 

Winnipeg Stock Okay 

Winnipeg, Oct. 6. 
Evidence that the prairie cities are 
hungry for drama was shown by the 
John Holden Players, formerly the 
Actors' Colony Theatre Group of 
Toronto. 

Holden and his group opened for 
an eight-week engagement at the old 
legit Dominion. Cleared all ex- 
penses and began salting some coin 
away after the first week's playing. 




One-Night Stands Aplenty 
for White's 'Scandals' and 
Others— But Shows Must 
Have 'Big-Town ' Quality' 



•AND AT $2.76 TOP 



Chicago, Qct. 6. 
Comeback of the road is getting 
underway around the midwest after 
a layoff of nearly seven years. This 
time the comeback looks life the 
McCoy and not just another hope. 

One ^how has already ' galloped 
through the. territory with a string 
of capacity houses to? its credit, and 
three other shows are being readied 
to hit the same trail.; This is being, 
done, for the first time' in-years, with- 
the 100% co-operation of the motion 
picture circuits which control most 
of the towns and have kept shows but 
in the past by refusing to open them 
to legit attractions. N 

This year the circuits are not. only 
making the closed houses available 
for legit, but are pulling the pictures 
out of regular screen houses and 
turning them over to' legit for one or. 
two-night stands. 

Show which is now on the road is 
George White's 'Scandals," which is 
doing capacity biz throughout Illi- 
nois, Indiana and Wisconsin during 
its first three weeks out on the- road. 
Readying to follow are the Shiiberts 
with 'Blossom Time' and 'Naughty 
Marietta' to follow, both, revivals. 
Morris Ge^t, here with his . 'Lady 
Precious Stream,' is considering the 
possibility of one-nighting it through;, 
this same territory. 

First Time In Tears . 

It marks the first genuine interest 
in the road by major producers, and, 
for the first time in years, they feel 
that they can hit the road and come 
back with profit. 

'Blossom Time' is completing a 
three-week stay at the Grand here, 
and then heads for Detroit for one 
week before starting on its proposed 
one-nighter jaunt. 'Naughty Mari- 
etta' will follow at the Grand on Oct. 
18, after opening Oct. 12 in Pitts- 
burgh. 

White's 'Scandals' has played 
Joliet, Peoria, Indianapolis, South 
Bend, Rockford, Milwaukee, Madison, 
La Crosse and Kansas City, with 
further time of a simifar nature now 
being arranged. Musical Tevue is 
understood getting deals of 75-25 as 
a general rule, at $2.75 top. Revivals 
of 'Blossom Time' and 'Marietta' will 
play at $2.20 top. 

Last Year's Tries 

Last year the only real one-night 
clicks in the midwest were 'Three 
Men on a Horse* and 'Tobacco Road,' 
with the bulk of the shows coming 
into Chicago, passing up the smaller 
towns. 

The few that . did go out were 
heavy money-makers, and the man- 
agers figure that the time now 
has come for all. Indications 
throughout the midwest are that 
amusement money is considerably 
looser than it has been and that the 
average musical and dramatic show 
can get the necessary $2.20 or $2.75, 
where a few years ago it was im- 
possible to garner $1 per ducat in 
any of these towns. 

And the circuits are finding that 
they can make plenty themselves on 
the bookings from their 25% share 
of the talce, totalling considerably 
more than the average picture gross. 
Also they have found that the book- 
ing of these shows does not injure 
regular earnings of the houses as 
picture spots, but rather aids by giv- 
ing the public a change of diet. 

However, it's obvious generally 
that it takes a show with a long 
standing, or New York rep to make 
good. Day of stock and rep shows 
with - mediocre, unexploited plays, 
and tank-town casts is unquestion- 
ably over. Shows which hit the one- 
night route must be of metropolitan 
quality on rep, casting and produc- 
tion because the one-night audience 





in Box, 



'White Horse Inn,' 
Opens to Oke Biz; 

Nixed, But Dept Store Tieup Set 




es 



'White Horse' Figures 



;N. Y., can play out. of the. red 
in less than- 20 weeks, .provided 
it holds its' starting paee. From 
the premiere Thursday. (1). up 
to Saturday night takings, for 
the first four .performances- ap- 
proximated . around - $32,000. 
'. Weekly gross can reach nearly 
$60,000; while the operating nut 
is estimated at around $33,000, 
. J Should 'Inn' average $50,000 
. weekly for five months it would 
earn $17,000 weekly, or $340,000, 
in that period. Cost, of produc- 
tion is placed at $290,000. ..<', 






HAMLETS' 



Interest in the two Hamlets which, 
Broadway will see this, fall is clearly 
indicated by their ' advance sales. 
First^ in which Guthrie' Mc,Clintic. 
will present John Gielgud at " the 
Empire, opens Thursday (8), a $6.60 
top premiere. It was sold out a week 
before the opening and. several hun- 
dred checks were returned. Regu- 
lar night scale will be at $3.30 top. 

Leslie Howard's Hamlet, due at the 
Imperial Nov. 10, will open the ticket 
sale one month in advance • of its 
debut. ~ ........ 



NO MORE SNAPSHOTS, 
SAYS VINT FREEDLEf 1 



Boston, Oct. 9: 
Free-lance candid cameramen 
have been banned from previewing 
Vincent Freedley's new production, 
•Red, Hot and Blue,"- opening here 
Wednesday (7) and notified by . the 
producer that a New York outfit now 
has an exclusive concession for .his 
shows. 

Ruling will doubtless have reper- 
cussions in the ; photographic and 
publishing' trade. Whether Richard 
Tucker, who has an assignment on 
this show from Stage and Town and 
Country, will be banned from the 
opeping night has not been deter- 
mined. He. does candid camera 
work on a lot of Show's. " 



Equity's Tellers 



Tellers have been named to count 
the ballots of the referendum on the 
proposed 'junior' amendment to 
Equity's constitution. Time limit for 
receipt of the ballots is Oct. 16, 
which falls on Friday. . Votes will 
not be counted therefore until the 
following Monday (19). • 

Clyde Fillmore, George Heller and 
Alfred Kappeler will be the counter- 
uppers. . .. ' 



Reading Gets Legit 

Reading, Pa., Oct. 6. 

Manager William A. Heckman, of 
the Orpheum, which installed sound 
and turned to films recently, com- 
pelling burlesque to seek quarters* 
at the Capitol, one-time picture 
house, has booked a return date for 
'Tobacco Road' on Oct. 13. 

Announces that several dates, each 
month will be set aside for legit. 



is, if anything, more critical than the 
metropolitan audiences. Small town 
ers are afraid that the 'big city' pro- 
ducers are going to try to put some 
thing over on 'em and for' that rea 
son' watch their diet with a micro- 
scope these days. 



With the many problems and dis- 
putes which ^marked >its preparation 
backgrounded, 'White '. Horsfr Inn' 
premiered at .the Center, New York, 
last Thursday' (l)j as advertised.' It 
drew - a generally strong press but 
there were distinct dissenters. How- 
ever, the Tyrolean operetta drew 
.corking" attendance' , on the second 
night and went to capacity oh Satur- 
day night.' '\ ' , *: : :> 

.Cost" qt ^putting on .'Inn' was 
$290,000, sightly 'under the figure, 
estimated. . jStjage-, parflcularly the \ 
front portion and the proscenium, 
was .virtually ^ahsftrjriedf to height- 
en .the^ scenic .effects, -while* the lobby 
was. converted- into store displays, 
featuring products., native to the 
Austrian mountains, in which . 'Inn' 
is located, . . '. .... . 

Claimed the show can gross $60,OQP 
at the admission scale of $3.85 top* 
Takings the second night were esti- 
mated at around $7,2Q0rwhile Saturr 
day's gross went ,pver the $12,000 
mark. Whether the production cost 
can be' earned back during, the 
metropolitan engagement appears 
questiohabie.'The Great Waltz,' which 
was the first legit show in the lesser 
of the two~JUdiQ,;City theatres, wflp 
unable te: showman" actual profit, al- 
though, 'its. f opfit'a'titog profit was . 
large and, on tour last season, it 
finally climbed out' of the red, going 
put this season pn, velvet. • ; ; . 

No Whiskey Ads 

• Faet that the show has a three- 
sided sponsorship did not make 'lot' 
smoothness during rehearsals." Many 
outside offers, some with an ad an- 
gle, were discussed and mostly re- 
jected. Understood the Rockefellers 
^^,-W,W.te;..-B^e/ whiskey,' .which 
"blfered • dis- 
play. Liquor people were willing to 
pay that price to place a white 
horse sketch on the curtain with no 
wording. Report is the Rockefellers 
figured that a booze^ jingle was not 
welcome, although ,a number of res- . 
taurants in Radld City regularly dis- 
pense liquor. . ' '- • 
.Another idea was to use curtain 
space for a prominent make of beer 
but the brewer nimbly ducked. Such 
perquisites were figured by .Warners 
and Laurence Rivers (Rowland Steb- 
bins) the major backers of 'Inn,' as 
material aids in' equalizing the pro- 
duction cost, but the Rockefellers -ap- 
peared content to have their.. 'prob- 
lem theatre' tenanted, having little 
or nothing to lose, especially if 'Inn' 
clicks. , .-. .' ' • 
• Lobby, with its miniature stoj-e 
window displays, is a promotion idea 
by Macy's* department store, N. Y. 
Cost to the latter is estimated at 
$7,000. : Store' '-agrees to devote 
space in its advertising to the show, 
while Macy's itself figures on em- 
phasizing the Tyrolean mode. Ski 
outfits, sweaters, -scarfs and gadgets 
are on disfilay, white girls in native 
costume mingle 'with patrons during 
intermissions with baskets of souve- 
nirs for sale. \ ■ 

•Tyrol 1 An*ie 

Macy's ad department handled the 
deal after getting the okay from its 
buyers that the Tyrolean gag might 
be made popular this winter. Tie-up 
between the shpw^nd the store is 
the first o'f.-'its'kind on Broadway. 
Lobby window displays are to be 
changed periodically, with about 
half - the store's departments repre- 
sented from time to time. 

. 'Inn' is Stebbins' first venture into 
the . musical show field. Under his 
trade name, Laurence Rivers, Inc., 
he came to attention with 'The 
Green Pastures,' becoming a pro- 
ducer more as a hobby than for 
profit. He Is represented in man- 
agement by Charles G, Stewart, 
while Barney Klawans acts fcj 
Warners. 



54 



VARWTY 



Wednesday, October 7, 1936 



Noel Coward Has a Play and a Book, : 
On Hand: What to Do in Between? 



Outside o£ the coming New York 
engagement of 'Tonight at, 9:30,'. 
finishing his autobiography, 'Present 
Indicative,' a tentative world jaunt, 
a hazy operetta, • and a hazier U. S. 
film venture, Noel - Coward hasn't 
much on hand. 

As for making any pictiires oyer 
here himself Coward says the script 
must be practically home-made. He- 
is primarily a playwright and plans 
toi stick to this -profitable business. 
HDllywood has approached him with 
'several- offers, he- admits, but his own 
knowledge , of scripting, editing and 
cutting is still comparatively minute, 
and he is not sold- on l(:'He wasn't 
totally satisfied with 'The Scoundrel' 
(Par) but it. pleased him. He'd like 
to make another _ fiim here, if the 
right- story pops up, but, well, he. 
.doesn't know. '' 

When Tonight' folds,. Coward 
•wants to take another world trip. 
Where, he doesn't know. There are 
still a few plates he has not seen. 
Siberia, the South Seas and- New 
Zsaland. Then again he may . double 
back over, his tracks and look up 
some of the international cronies he 
made on the "last jaunt.. . jft's a good: 

bracer. • . 

But: thoughts of the coming New 
York, run were creeping up on him 
then, and he- scratched his . deeply, 
tanned forehead. 

His next effort may be an. operetta. 
Revues are out, as they, don't last 
- long enough. He- is still very- -warm 
toward 'Bitter Sweet,' the London 
production especially (he squirmed 
at mention of an open-air version on 
a barge like- Fortune- Galhr did last 
summer at Jones Beach; L. I.), and 
would like to hop on sdme germ for 
another similar musical opus. 

Nothing- is on flrefOr. him during 
Coronation Week.ne^t lilay. No one 
goes to the theatres' anyway, then, he 
thinks.- Everyone is on the streets 
■watching parades and trying to- get a 
glimpse of King Edward. No, that's 
out. It doesn't mean a thing to him. 



Insurance 



Taking insurance against the 
usual author's spending spree" 
after a sale; Robert Turney, aUr 
thor .'pi. 'Daughters of Atretis,' 
refused the advance., royalty 
preferred him by , producer De?. 
.los Chappell. In preference- to 
the lump sum he is, instead, 
getting a weekly allowance out 
of a reported total of $2,000. 
Which is a lot. of coin for & 
first production author, no mat- 
ter how it's sliced. . ' ' \ 

New royalty ■„ &y s te m was 
strictly an idea of Turney's and 
not a duck on the- part of the 
producer. Turney's logic is that, 
like mpst humans, sudden af- 
fluence is apt- to disappear just 
as rapidly. To insure himself 
he asked for a steady weekly 
income. 

Turney's luck with the play 
thus far has been, exceptional, 
anyway. First optioned, by tp.e 
Theatre Guild, it has : been his 
means: of sustenance for a long 
time. Twice he received the 
usual $600 advance for an op- 
tion from the Guild-before that 
outfit relinquished the rights. 
Almost immediately after it 
found its way to Chappell. That 
was about a- year ago. Play is- 
scheduled for opening on Oct. 
14 at the 44th St. Theatre, N. Y.- 



Shows in Rehearsal 




'Abie'i Irish Rose' (revival)— 
Anne .Nichols. 

<The 6taow Is . OnVrShuperts. 

'All Editions' — Juliana , Mor- 
gan.' , ,' • .' ■ , ... 

,, 'plumes. In The Dost'— Arthur 
Hopkins. 

'Swept River*— George Abbptt. 

'Iron Win'— Norman Geddes. • 

'Ten Million Ghosts'-r-Sidney 
Kingsley. •. • 

•The Lauffbinf Woman'— Ull- 
man and Shuberts. . . • 

.♦Hamlet'— Leslie. Howard. w 

'Come Home to Roost'— Hern- 
don and Stoddard. 

•White- Man'— Sam Byrd. ■ 
. 'Daughters of Atreus — Delos 

Chappell. - . 

'Forbidden Melody'— Grisman 

and Kirkland. * 



School Stations 



(Continued from page 33) 



the 



Coward, in New York, 1 is now set- 
tled down in Alexander Woollcott's 
former abode, 'Wit's End/ in Sutton 
Place. Searching ' for the right 
Broadway theatre, to house 'Tonight' 
is. causing some debates. But then 
. .there's always; something. Always. 

Noel Coward and John C Wilson, 
yho are the most active in the group 
■ which controls Transatlantic Pro- 
ductions; in which the Lunts are in- 
terested; ' arrived Monday (5) from 
London to arrange for presentation 
of the Coward, playlets, billed as 
Tonight at 8.30.' London success is 
regarded as a~ natural for Broadway, 
but no theater has yet -been selected. 

Actor-author-manager has quite 
definite- ideas, as to sharing . terms 
and does not care to rent a house. 
Understood that one stipulation is 
the booking . contract have a stop 
limit of '$18,000, probably the highest 
figure ever set for a straight .show. 
Coward is reputed saying if To 
night' does not. top that mark he 
would not be interested, in appearing 
in- it. 

Tonight' is slated for a three- 
month engagement in . New York. 
Supporting cast v/lll arrive next 
week, and the show , is dated to 
debut in Boston, .late this month. 
Transatlantic has plans for the pres- 
entation -of two. other attractions 
here during the season; 
Two-day lapse in between open- 
ing nights., has been decided upon 
for the One-acters. After the first 
week, nine playlets will follow in 
"consecutive order. Coward feels 
that- the three premieres, . one right 
after the other, will tax the press, 
public and actors too much. 



Discussion meeting, Equity's 
monthly informal, session designed 
to permit members to blow off 
steam, held last. Friday (?>, was 
a flop. Drew a total of only .48 per- 
sons, a new low in Equity meeting 
attendance, and eight of those pres- 
ent were members of the council. 

It was indicated, that-membets who 
might have ordinarily attended were 
listening to the. world's series ball 
game on the radio. - 

With Robert Haines in the chair, 
there was desultory talk from the 
floor, . mostly concerned with' the 
WPA, principal topic of all discus- 
sion sessions. Most, of the - squawks 
appear to be aimed against Equity 
officials, general complaint being 
that they 'don't, do anything' con- 
cerning WPA activities^ Equity lead- 
ers state the complaints concern 
mostly imaginary abuses. 



discovered basic principles of 
radio art. . , 

Educational groups cannot move 
forward under present limits on time 
and power and yrfth undesirable fre- 
quencies, .McCarty insisted-. No col- 
lege transmitter has more than 5 kw 
and most do not use more than 1 kw, 
he remarked, while their hours are 
strictly limited in majority of in- 
stances. Allocation of low fre- 
quencies, with most desirable propa- 
gation characteristics, is ne:essary to 
overcome this handicap, he argued. 

Criticism of past . Commish action 
came from Howard. Evans, head *6f 
National Committee for .Education 
by Radio, who- also- appealed to the 
Commish to study social as well as 
engineering, phases of reallocation. 
He-squawked that neither the F.C.C. 
nor its predecessor ever has given 
adequate thought to the social con- 
sequences of its policies and de- 
cisions, and their delinquency caused 
conditions of 'unfairness and -injus- 
tice' to develop. 

Suggesting a totally different view- 
point on the part of the regulatory 
body, Evans -said- the- government, 
through its licensing powers, has 
fostered monopolies although under 
the competitive system all stations 
are supposed 'to compete on even 
terms.- Technical, allocation require- 
ments, he explained, have given 
various advantages to some groups 
and imposed handicaps on rivals. 

Although he. conceded that educa- 
tional programs appeal to minority 
groups, while commercial programs 
are favored by the. masses, Evans in- 
sisted the Commish must make a 
place for education and ■ culture.- 
Classiflcation of service is necessary, 
he opined, , to counteract limitations, 
which have-, been imposed by com- 
mercial operators on non-profit 
groups. The industry has inherent 
handicaps which make it incapable 
of doing the job of educational 
broadcasting, Evans contended, and 
governmental supervision is impera- 
tive. 



Four Straw Hat Tryouts Already 
In M B'way Can't Be Bothered 




Adele Blood Hope's 
Effects Under Hammer 



Auction sale of the household goods 
and effects of the late Adele Blood 
Hope will be conducted Monday (12) 
at her former home, 16 Griswold 
Road, Rye, N. Y., house being spotted 
on the ground of the Westchester 
Country Club. 

Miss Blood suicided recently, leav- 
ing no note of explanation. Dawn 
Hope, her surviving daughter, de- 
cided on disposing Of the house's 
content*. 



Crop of plays tried out in. the 
sticks this summer is running to the 
form indicated. Out of the skimpy 
group of 10 -shows nominated for 

Broadway presentation from at flock 
of 75 viewed in various pastures in 
the east, four have already opened 
in the big town. None -won the nod 
from the critics and three have al- 
ready folded. 

'Spring Dance,' 'So Proudly We 
Hail' and 'Timber House' are the. 
departures. 'Dance' was presented 
by Jed'Ha>ris and was touted as the 
summer's good thing. It lasted only 
three weeks less one night. 'House' 
reached th.» boards after bankroll 
trouble, and the same factor prob- 
ably counted in its withdrawal after 
one performance. 

'Seen But Not Heard' is the other 
rural product still on the boards, but 
so far business has been mild. It 
was among the tlvoe standouts, rated 
along with 'Laughing Woman' and 
'Dance.' 'Woman' has not yet been 
announced for regular production, 
i Six remaining summer possibilities 
may or may not reach the Broadway 
boards and it is clear that the straw 
hat prophets were over optimistic. 

It will probably depend on the suc- 
cess of the new seasan whether the 
country playhouses will be 1 as 
numerous next summer , because, if 
regular engagements are longer than 



for the past several seasons, actors 
will doubtless duck the sticks. There 
they can hide away during the 
heated period, but generaly it is hard 
work, with rehearsals the order of 
nearly every day. 



renaAway i romr reviews, 
Managers Figure It False Economy 



Current Road Shows 



(WEEK OCT. JS). 

'And Stars Remain,' National, 
Washington, 

'Blossom Time,' Grand O. H., 
Chicago. 

Hoy Meets Girl,' Plymouth, Bos- 
ton. . ' • 

'Boy Meets Girl,' Paramount, To- 
ledo, 5; Shea's, Erie, Pa., 6{ 
' Shea's, Jamestown, N. Y., 7; 
Park, Youngstown, O., 8; Vir- . 
ginia, Wheeling, W. Va., 9-10. 

'Call It a Day/ Chestnut, Phila- 
delphia. 

. 'Beai End,* Studebaker, Chicago. 

'End of Summer' (Ina . Claire), 
Ford's, Baltimore, 8-10. 

•First Lady' (Jane Cowl), Shu- 
bert, Boston. 

•Great' Waltz,' Mosque, Rich- 
mond, Va., 9.-10. 

•Lady Precious Stream/ Harris, 
Chicago. 

•Meet My Sister/ Alcazar, San 
Francisco. 

'Night of Jan. 16/ Selwyn, Chi- , 

cago. . .. 
'Mulatto,' Cox, Cincinnati. 
'Pelde and Prejudice/ Nixon, 

Pittsburgh. 
.'Red, Hot and Blue/ Colonial, 

Boston, 7t11. 

'Scandals/ Arcadia, Wichita, 
Kans., 5; Auditorium; Denver, 
6-7; Travel, 8; Parapiount, Salt 
Lake City, 9-10. ■ 

'Stage Door/ ; . Shubert, New 
Haven, 5-7. 

•Tobacco Road/ Shubert, New- 
, ark. ' • 

Tovarlch/ Forrest, Philadelphia. 



'Stage Door' Rewrite 
Delays Kaufman's Next 

Philadelphia, Oct. 6. 
Here last week with 'Stage Door,' 
George S. Kaufman said his 'You 
Can't Take It With You,* collabora- 
tion with Moss Hart, has been de- 
layed at least a week by revisions 
to 'Stage Door.' Had been planned 
to open Nov. 9 at the Chestnut here, 
but probably won't be ready until 
two weeks later. Would like to open 
.it at the Chestnut on the later date 
if the house is free then. 

Revisions to 'Stage Door.' most of 
which are in. the third act, call for 
a completely altered final curtain. 

Asked about the possibility of do- 
ing revisions for 'Room Service* for 
Sam . Harris, Kaufman declared the 
script . requires more work than its 
potentialities warrant — at least for 
him. Added that, anyway, he's 
'getting too old' to take any interest 
•in those light farces.' 



Equity Toughens Rule 
r On Actors in Little 
Theatres Sans Payoff 



. Equity has added to its restrictive 
measure concerning little theatre 
activity on the coast. Recently four 
players were suspended for insisting 
on appearing in. a play sans salary 
and Equity has figured that man- 
agers of such tries should also be 
'disciplined.' . 

Hereafter any manager who in- 
veigles players to appear without 
salary, on promises that picture 
studio people would be enabled to 
look them over or any other lure 
that provokes players to violate the 
rules, will be placed on the unfair 
list. ' It is realized, . however, that 
such managers would . only be af- 
fected if entering the regular legit 
field. ' 

Rules are that no Equityite is to 
appear in little theatre plays unless 
paid the regular minimum salary 
and provided the project has ratings 
as a real little theatre. 

Since Equity adopted the rules 
virtually ho professionals are in the 
coast little theatre shows, which 
have reverted to amateurs.' 



Pre-vlewlngV -"of dress' rehearsals 
of Broadway legit shows for picked 
or restricted audiences, appear -to be 
no longer "ah .issue. There was 
criticism of the practice a year or • 
so ago, principally .on the .grounds 
that potential .audiences ' were being 
wasted by issuance of free tickets. 
Was further, argued' .that dress re- 
hearsals were a false economy by 
managers. . '_ . 

Last season there was a trend 
back to the. custom of trying new 
plays out of town and this season it 
is stronger. ' .'Few shows, arriving so 
far have used the .preview, idea^ 
Equity '.partially curbed the system 
by ruling- that should dress re- 
hearsals he attended by the payment 
of coin, the actors must :be given 
regular salaries. . 

Pre-views started during the de- 
pression, managers' figuring on sav- 
ing transportation and baggage 
transfer costs.. It was always ques- 
tioned, however, whether the re-" 
action from cuffo • audiences fur- 
nished a correct indication of a . 
play's chances. 

More experienced showmen are 
all playing their shows out of town 
now- before showing in New York. 
Where a play needs scrip't revision, 
it can be accomplished thus, even if 
additional road bookings prove to be 
necessary. . Dress rehearsals . do not 
provide enough leeway, it is figured, 
and it is sounder show business to 
premiere shows in the b.est possible 
way, rather than try to save,money* 



Flo Reed in 'Shanghai 
Gesture- to Start Pop 
Season at Locust/ PhiHy 



Philadelphia, Oct. 6. 

Fox-Locust, Locust street between 
Broad and Fifteenth, will be the' 
home, of popular-priced legits start- 
ing Oct. .26. Jules Leventhal, who 
had the Broad here for several sea- 
sons for his pass-racket system, has 
taken over the Locust which, fu- 
tile past four or five years, Y/s been 
owned by A. R. Boyd. Latter took ' 
it over from Fox. 

House has had legit before but 
only briefly and occasionally. . Also 
used one short season as the home 
of stock for Mae Desmond and 
Frank Fielder. 

First attraction under the Leven- 
thal aegis will be Florence Reed in 
The Shanghai Gesture,' which never 
played Philly, having been banned - 
by the then censor, Dr. Edward 
Pool. 'The Old Maid' and a revival 
of 'Abie's Irish Rose' are mentioned 
to follow. 

Leventhal- season will be at popu- 
lar prices with $1 as top. 



What Little Theatres 
In the Carolinas Like 



Rio'i Tourist Biz 

Rio de Janeiro,'- Sept. 24. 
Municipal Theatre here is bagging 
the Clipper and local carriage trade, 
what with the just completed grand 
opera season during which Brazilian 
songstress Bidu Sayao made her re- 
appearance here after clicking in 
New. York to the tune of a Met Op 
contract for 1937-'38. . . 



'MULATTO' STARTS DETROIT 

Detroit, Oct. 6. 
' Sudden switch in bookings delays 
the opening of the local legit season 
until Oct. 18, when 'Mulatto' comes 
into the Cass for a one-week stand. 
'Blossom Time' originally had been 
set to open here next Sunday (11), 
but the Shubert operetta revival was 
sent to Philadelphia on a hurry call 
and won't play here until later in the 
season. 

Following the James Kirkwood 
opus, the Cass will show 'Lady Pre- 
cious Stream' for. seven days, start- 
ing Oct. 25, after which Jane Cowl's 
'First Lady' moves in for a week. 
Katharine Cornell's 'Wingless Vic- 
tory' is due some time in' December, 
before opening on Broadway. An- 
other likelihood is 'Night Of Jan. 16/ 
which will come in after its Chicago 
run, ■': - 



Charlotte, N. C, Oct. 6. 

Here is what the little theatre 
groups select from the Broadway 
plays for use in the hinterland. In 
the Carolinas, various groups picked 
the following from the plays now 
available: 

Charlotte Little Theatre is re- 
hearsing 'The Vinegar Tree,' by 
Paui Osborne, as the season's starter 
under Director TOm Humble; 'Pride 
and Prejudice/ based on Jane Aus- 
tin's novel, was used by the Flora 
Macdonald Players at Red Springs, 
under the direction of Bessie Cov- 
ington; Greensboro College Players, 
'Pygmalion,' by Shaw, and Coward's 
'Private Lives'; Raleigh' Little The- 
atre has 'Quicksand,' T>y Ann Pres- 
ton Bridges, a new play; Carolina 
Piaymakers got- away with. 'Lysis- 
trata,' and there was no flareback; 
Gastonia/* 'The Romantic Young 
Lady*; Seaboard, 'Young Womenj; 
Morganton, 'Spreading the News'; 
and Mrs. " Hill College, 'Hedda 
Gabler.* 



'Schwejk' Set as 121st 

Play for Hedgerow 

Philadelphia, Oct. li. 
Erwin Piscator adaptal'^n Of 
'Good Soldier Schwejk,' Jaioslav 
Haschek novel, is tentatively set a-; 
the next (121st) addition -to the 
-Hedgerow Theatre repertory. Won! I 
open on Armistice Day. 



Wednesday, October 7, 1936 



LEGITIMA I t 



VARIETY 



55 



Four l^Sfim. Qkay, Tiredous 
Stream' Leads Town at $11, 




"Chicago, Oct. 6. . 
Four shows in- town are all doing 
business. None of them are showing 
any great profit,' however,' and none 
of them are eveh'riear capacity, but 

• each "of them "is taking in enough 

• coin td*pay*expenses, and leave some 
. for the bank: Strangely enough, 

each'-onerpf the Jtour -shows is. with- 
in' sltfildtog "distance of $10,000; all 
£f thema fe^BuBdrtfd dolldrs oh 

' either side of that mark.. 

-. Best of the lot is 'Lady Precious 
Stream,' which is topping the list 
due to subscription strength of the 

'American Theatre Society. At least 
$6,000 on the initial week s take goes 

' to the subscription credits. This is 

' the best subscription season for the 

■ ATS in several years. 'Precious 
stream' hit. close to the $11,000 mark 
lor a neat take. Morris (Jest is now 
.pondering the chances of taking the 
•show out on a one-night tour of this 
territory. 

• 'Dead End' takes second place on 
. general . strength. . This - Michigan 
/avenue show, which ' started weakly 

- three weeks' ago', is beginning to in- 
' dicate expanding strength. 
.f^-'Blossom Time' held up during its 
' second week and will go into a third 
'session' at the Grand before pulling 
: out for Detroit 

•' -Night of Jan. 16' slipped consider- 
ably f torn its bang-up opening ses- 
' slon !. and . went under the $10,000 
^mark. 

- " . '.Naughty Marietta' and 'Pride and 
. Prejudice' , are the new shows com- 
'iiig-in; former to replace 'Blossom 

• Time' for the Shuberts and latter 
" to ' take the place of 'Precious 

Stream' as the second ' American 
Theatre* Society play at the Harris. 

- '/Erlanger, haying lost the TRomeo 
and "Juliet* > (MG) "roadshow picture, 

. is dark and doesn't look like it will 
' get an attraction until 'End of Slim- 
mer.* . ; ' \i 
- Estimates for Last Week 
*W©ssdm . Time/* , Grand (1,300; 
$?20) (3d week). Good enough to 
stick it out for three weeks, one ses- 
sion more than . -originally figured. 
Good at $10,000 last week. - Show 
: goes to Deft-pit '-'Saturday (10); 
House will be' dark a week, then gets 

• 'Naughty Marietta.' ' ' ' 

^ -Dead End/ Studebaker (1,300; 
. $2.75) (4th. week). Getting a bit 
stronger. Good matinees and strong 

■ week end make it better than week 
^previous at good $10,500. 

V r . /Lady - Precious Stream,' Harris 

- (1,000; $2.75) (2d week). . Best take 
of. the. loop, and pretty "smart opeti- 

1 itjg mark for this subscription sea- 
''" Son .play at approximately. $11,000.. • 
•Night of Jan. 16;" Selwyn (1,000; 
, $2.75)" (3d week)/ Jury arid court- 
room play slumped considerably on 

• Its second session' after big opening 
. W$ek. Off. to $9,500, still plenty of 
' margin.' ' 

■" ■ WPA 

■ ' "Broken Dishes,' Blackstime. Only 
WPA-er. in 'town and getting plenty 

■ of audience. " '*" • 



'DODSr NEWARK 

Poor Prodaction Can't Get Anything 
Away from Film Version 

■ " ... j t . 

• ... i. ■ <• Newark, Oct. 6. ; 7 

Shubert theatre, which opened well 
three weeks ago, has been slipping 
somewhat, due maiiily to shoddy pro- 
ductions,. 'Dedsworth' was roundly 
panned for. makeshift scenery, though 
the critics had a good word for the 
cast. Box office suffered badly; how- 
ever. Production goes to the jjtore- 
house. . ';_■» -~ .'■ ... 

Current attraction is Tobacco 
Road,' with Taylor Holmes, this be- 
ing a return engagement 'Tobacco' 
played here two weeks in the spring. 
Estimate for Last week 
•Dodswoith,' Shubert (1,970; 50- 
$1.50). Second grade production, 
with exception of one or two oi the 
players; did not bring in more than 
- very poor $3,000. 



'STARS' OFF TO 
$8,000, PITTS. 



Pittsburgh, Oct. 6 
Legit season gott away to a fairly 
indifferent start at Nixon.* First play 
was 'And;!Stars Remain,' new Thea- 
tre Guild: show under auspices of the 
ATS. Got an- excellent start, with 
subscription- help; - but when word 
got around. '.'that' '.the! piece was in 
need of fixing,, window sale dropped 
to almost nothing; -Slightly better 
than $8,000 O'rt" the session, with more 
than five grand of 'that already in 
the till on opening. ■• 

Cast names, Clifton Webb and 
Helen Gahagan, .riiean little around 
here. Notices on the show were 
mixed Jbut a flock of revisions went 
in and the show looks to have an 
even chance for success on Broad- 
way. 

ATS is shooting its shows in early 
this season. Current is 'Pride and 
Prejudice,' second subscription of- 
fering, with 'End of Summer' arriv- 
ing as the third on Oct. 19, after a 
Shubert breakin of still another re- 
vival, 'Naughty Marietta.' Also 
slated for an early date is 'Call It a 
Day,', which will be the fourth so- 
ciety show. 

/Estimate for Last Week 

'And Stars Remain,' , Nixon ($2,100; 
$2.85) New Guild show got about 
$5,000 from subscriptions and about 
$3,000 more at the window for a 
moderate $8,000 take. Opened fine 
but fell way off. ' . 



TWO FLOP OUT 



JANE COWL OPENS HUB 
: SEASON, OKAY $16,000 

Tirst Lady,' doing a' solo here last. 
Jreek at the, Shubert; started off at a 
brisk pace and Jane Cowl drew" a 
' good chunk of carriage trade".' 
t •♦BoyrMeets Girl/'dpened with a 
52 j com Pany at the Plymouth, 
Monday (5) night and a new musi- 
cal,.*Red Hot and Blue!' will be the 
first important revue entry here in 
months at the Colonial opening 
Wednesday (7). for ten days. 
- Estimate .for the. Last Week - 
V*,?'™* Lady* - (Shubert, 1st week, 
. W.75) — Jane Cowl is- still a marquee 

fflSn h ^ r ? ^4' 7.0Pe.ning stanza's 
$16,000 is okay. ....... . 



'Helena' $^00, D. C. 

'. . . • ■ ■ Washington, Oct. 6. 

u^i.^J. Pf'P.^Vs.only legit spot, 
; «unched. its. season, last Week with 
' the-- premiere- of - -Max • Gordon's 'St. 

Sf le »a- House got plenty of bally 
■on the..5tart of its 101st season and 
' critics were kind to the show, 
. but the 'week didn't better an ap- 
.. Proximate $8,000, satisfactory. 

■Current attraction is 'And Stars 
v «emain,' with' Ina Claire in 'End of 
. Summer* to follow. 

. Bailey in N. C. 

Charlotte, N. C, Oct. 6. 
: Howard ~Vf. "Bailey, newly ap- 
Pointed North Carolina state director 
Of the WPA Federal Theatre Proj- 
ect has reported for duty. He suc- 
: ceeds Mary Dirnberger, who con- 
' tinu ? s with the state staff as tech- 
nical consultant 

. . Bailey, who trained with the 
: Carolina Playmakers in 1927 and 
iater was business manager for jthat 
group, h a s been in the east for sev- 
eral years. He returns for this post. 



Two more quick folds among the 
first, flight attractions of Broadway's 
new season are : oft* -the boards. 'So 
Proudly We Hail' stopped at the 
46th St. Saturday after playing two 
weeks less one night. .DFew a mixed' 
press and weak "attendance. 



- 'SO PROUDLY WE HAIL' 

Opened Sept; 22,' '36. Fi'rst- 
strlngers were divided on 'the 
merits .of this military school 
' play ' with Richard Cromwell. 
Lockridge (Sun) Called It 'vig- 
orous melodrama,' '. but Brown 
(Post) said 'it has little or noth- 
ing io say.' 

Variety. (Kauf) said: It Is not 
box Office.' 



'Stork Mad' failed to relight at 
the Ambassador lionday. It played 
•only five performances. Was panned 
and sponsors decided continuance 
was -useless. 



•STORK MAD* 
. Opened Sept. 30, '36. Most of 
the- No. 1 critics ducked this 
hillbilly baby race, with. none, 
of the' reviewers In attendance 
cheering at the finish. 

Watts (Tribune) declared 
that It 'reaches a new low for 
the- year In taste and humor.' 



Sound Rehearsal 



When' 'Pre - Honeymoon' 
moved from the Lyceum, N. 
Y, to the Little last week, 
Anne Nichols, its presenter, de- 
cided the cast should be okayed 
for sound. Little is a smaller 
theater ' and she figured the 
players' .voices might be pitched 
too high. 

Although the show has been 
( on more than 20 weeks, an ac- 
.'coustic rehearsal was called in 
the new house. 



FUTURE PLAYS 

•When Autumn Comes,' drama by 
Miriam Grant and Robert E. Perry, 
is Tom Kilpatrick's entry. '. 

'Story to Be Whispered,' by Wil- 
liam- Hurlbut, is Al H. Woods'- next 
Woods is going to California for ac- 
tors for this 36-character production. 

'Marching as to War,' drama by 
Eckert Goodman and Jules Eckert 
Goodman, is On "Busbar & Tuerk's 
winter schedule. *' 



'STAGE DOOR' 

hot mm, 

PHILLY 



Philadelphia, Oct. 6. 

Philadelphia has - at last managed 
to get two legit houses- open and 
occupied at' the" 'same time. Last 
night the Chestnut! after five weeks 
of roadshow film, 'Romeo and Juliet' 
(MG), reverted to legit with the 
Theatre Guild's 'Call it a Day,* in 
for two weeks on subscription. 
. Forrest at the same time, got 
another, single week booking on 
Tovarich,' which came in highly 
touted from its Baltimore break-in. 

Next Monday will find the town's 
full quota of available legit houses 
functioning when the Erlanger re- 
lights after two dark weeks with 
'Forbidden Melody,' . season's first 
hew musical, as the attraction. For- 
rest has- finally filled ' the gap in its 
schedule, (weeks of Oct 12, 19) with 
an umpty : umpth return engagement 
of 'Blossom Time,' which is' coming 
in at popular prices. 'Melody,' in- 
cidentally, will be. the season s first 
$3 show here and is being watched 
closely on that account. Its skedded 
for two weeks and will, get a third 
if possible. 

"Children's Hour* comes to the 
Chestnut (also on subscription) on 
Oct, 19 and 'Leslie Howard's 'Ham- 
let' is due on Oct 26 at the Forrest 
Erlanger announces 'Bury .the Dead' 
on Nov. 2 and the new Rodgers- 
Hart musical that Alex Yokel is 
producing, probably on -Nov. 16. 
' Dopesters figure Philly is hot for 
some real biz right now. Season's 
first show, 'Love from a Stranger,'- 
did only a fair week at the Erlanger, 
but last week's single offering, 
'Stage Door,' turned in a splendid 
gross of' $18,25G at the Forrest, 
matinees being ■ particularly strong. 
And that despite a sharp' divergence 
of opinion, with a couple of pans, 
in the dailies. 

American Theatre Society's in 
creased subscription fund (9,000 
subscribers in all) figured as boost- 
ing the weekly grosses at the Chest- 
nut considerably. 'Call it a Day' 
had a fine sale prior to its opening 
last night 



Majestic, Chi, Stock 



.... - - Chicago, Oct. 6. 
' Indications now ^re.. that .should 
Meyer Cohen go- through with his 
plan to take over the dark ex-vaude 
Majestic and convert, .it to legit, it 
will be^strictly as-a-stock site.' Cohen, 
says he has dropped his original plan 
to start off .with . . 'Moon Over Mul- 
berry. Street' as a straight road pro- 
duction. 

Opening, dat e is now set as Oct. 26, 
a two week postponement ' Equity 
meanwhile has heard nothing fur- 
ther from Cohen, '.\vhp. is still dicker- 
ing for the house.- • -Bond has not y'e.t 
been posted with' the' association. 



Broadway Has Big Week, With Most 
Grosses Up; Inn' Off to Fine Start 



ENGAGEMENTS 

Clark Twelvetrees, Richard Taber, 
Frank Jaquet, Edward -V. Bracken, 
Dana Hardwicke,- Catherine Collins, 
Iron Men.' 

' Rosetta • arid Vivian Duncan, Ray 
Clarke, 'New Faces.' • • 
-Ruth Weston, Charles Bryant, 
Nancy Sheridan, Arthur Vinton, 
Boris Marshalbw, 'Manart Kippen, 
Leo Chalzell, 'Forbidden Melody.' 

Dodson Mitchell, Russell Sage, 
Philip Van Zandt, Ten Million 
Ghosts.' 

Ruth Chorpenning. Al Ochs, 
Lucian -Self. Jack Byrne, Edwin 
Hodge, Matt McHugh, Eugene Keith, 
Alice Farley, Jack .Daniels, Henry 
Norell, Billy Redfield, Junior Burtis, 
'Swing Your Lady.'. • 

Juanita Hall Singers, 'Sweet River.' 

Mary Young, Clarence Nordstrom, 
Gloria Mann, Richard Van Patten, 
George O. Taylor, E. J. Blunkall, 
'Come Home to Roost.' 

Juliana Tabema, Nancy Cushmah, 
Mary Jeffrey, Harold Gould, George 
Baxter, Jessamine Newcombe, 'White 
Man.' ' 

Albert Carroll, 'Hamlet' (Howard 
prod). 

George Gaul, Leslie Bingham, 
Grace Mills, 'Hedda Gabler.' 



S.R.O. was the rule in most 
Broadway theatres on Saturday 
night Crowds jammed the white 
way as much, or. more, ' than over 
Labor Day. Sporting events, 
especially the world's series ball 
games, furnished the magnet and 
grosses of all worthwhile attractions 
materially improved. 

There was. an exodus .Sunday 
night but enough people were held 
in the city when the series was ex- 
tended longer than Indicated. Man- 
agers were rooting for the . Giants 
to win Monday and Tuesday, so that 
all possible (seven) games would be 
played, counting on upped attend- 
ance again this week. 

'White Horse Inn* proved" . the 
standout of the season's new attrac- 
tions to date.- It was hailed by most 
,critics and, from the business 
drawn to the Center (Radio City) 
the first four nights, 'Inn' looks 
aimed for better . than $50,000 
weekly. 

Of the other arrivals last week 
'Night Must Fall' was much the best. 
It got around. $il,000 at the Barry- 
more, despite a moderate press. 
'Love From a Stranger,' opposed 
London! thriller, ran a weak second' 
with $6,000 in seven performances, 
after a poor set of notices; 'Bright. 
Honor,' 48th Street 'Mimie Scheller,' 
Ritz, and .'Stork Mad,' Ambassador, 
were given doubtful chances and 
the latter was withdrawn after four 
days. Another closing was 'So 
Proudly We Hail,' 46th Street. 

'Follies* went through the week 
to virtual capacity and jumped to 
$33,000; 'On Your Toes* drew the best 
business since its early weeks and 
go^ over' $23,000;' -D'Oyly Cartes 
again;, topped' $20,000; '> : 

Up. to now 'Reflected Glory' is 'the 
best grosser of the new straight 
shows and.again got $15,000, v 
- Next week's , flock ■ of premieres: 
'Tovarich;' Plymouth; JAnd Stars Re- 
main,* Guild; 'The Laughing Woman,' 
Golden; 'Daughters of Atreus,' 44th 
Street; 'Ten Million Ghosts,' St. 
James; 'White Man,' National, and 
'Swing Your Lady,' Booth. 

Estimates for Last Week 
. 'Boy Meets Girl,' Cort (46th week) 
(C-l,059-$3.30). Went up smartly 
last week . and, like a number of 
shows, played to standees Saturday 
night; matinees generally off with 
fair, weather and Word's . series 
games; $10,500. 

'Bright Honor,', 48tb7St (2d week) 
(D-969-$3.30),,--. Notices' not favor- 
able; first week's • takings estimated 
under $4,000 J ;ehanc.BS "doubtful. • 

'Dead: End,?- Betaseo (50th Week.) 
(D-l,000-$3.30); - Like most shows, 
Saturday helped; the .gross; takings 
for holdover hit rated over $9,000. 
- -'Follies,' Winter Garden Cresumed 
eng.) (19th week) (R-l,493-$3.85). 
-.Virtual capacity all last week and 50 
standees Saturday night; estimated 
around $33,000. 

'Hamlet/ Empire (1st week) 
(D-l,096-$3.30). Presented by Guth- 
rie McClintic; first cf two 'Hamlets' 
to arrive has London's John Gielgud 
in title part; opens Thursday (8). 

idiot's Delight,' Shubert (resumed 
eng.) (21st week) (C-1.387-$3.30). 
Announced for London in the soring, 
but looks assured of continuance 
here into winter; last week rated 
well over $22,000. . 

'Le'nd Me Your Ears.' Mansfield 
(1st week) (CD-1,097-$3.30). Post- 
poned from last week; opened Mon- 
day; weak press. ' 

'Love from a Stranger/ Fulton 
(2d week) (D-913-$3.30). First seven 
performances grossed about $6,000; 
has agency buy for six weeks to 
partly balance disappointing press. 

'Mimie Scheller/ Ritz (2d week) 
(D-918-$3.30). Weak press, and 
chances hot definite; takings around 
$3,000 and must improve to stick. 

•New "' Faces/ ' Vanderbilt (21st 
week) (R-804-$3.30). Duncan Sisters 
go into show tonight (7), which may 
pep the pace; rated around $4,500 
last- week. 

. 'Night Mast Fall/ Bar rymore (2d 
week) (D-1,00Ot$3.3O). First week's 
takings approximated $11,000; in 
view" of fair press" this figure regard- 
ed as good." 

•On Your Toes/ Imperial (26th 
week) (M-i;463-$3.85). With' standees 
in for , night performances after 
world's series started, gross best 
since la3t spring; over $23,000. 

'Pre - Honeymoon/ Little (24th 
week) (C-532-$3^0). Sold out Sat 
urday. night "in - smaller capacity, 
house; played five months at 
Lyceum; $6,000. 

'Reflected' Glory/ Morosco C3d 
week) (D-961-$3.30). Held the open 
ing 'Week's" pace and now figured 
okay through the autumn; estimated 
around $15,000. 

'St. Helena/ Lyceum (l6t week) 
(D-957-$3.30). ' Presented by Max 
Gordon; written by R. C. Sherrlff 
and Jeanne de Casalis; opened Tues 
day. 



or less; no new booking for house, 
however. 

'So Proudly We Hall/ 46th St 
Withdrawn .Saturday; played less 
than two weeksi 

'Stork Mad/. Ambassador. Taken 
off Saturday after five performances. 

•Three Men On a Horse/ Playhouse 
(89th week). .'(C-869r$2.20), Shared 
in the Saturday night theatre rush 
and turned in best gross since spring; 
$6,000. 

'Tobacco Road/. Forrest (149th 
week) (D-l,017-$1.65). Saturday 
night jam helped -run leader go over 
$7,000 for first time since spring; 
road company at Brighton Beach got 
nearly $8,0.00. 

•Victoria Reglna,' Broadhurst (re- 
sumed eng.) (32d week) . (CD-1,110- 
$3.30). Went up nearly $1,000 la'st 
week to gross of $21,500: looks like 
a cinch well into winter. 

•White Horse Inn/ Center (2d 
week) (M-3,381-$3".85). Opered late 
last week, drawing mostly extrava- 
gant notices; sure to lead list in 
gross;, estimated it can top $59,000. 
Revivals 

D'Oyly Carte Opera - Co., Beck; 
Gilbert and Sullivan' shows continue 
to clean up and engagement extend- 
ed eight weeks, attraction remaining 
into December; over $20,000 weekly. 
WPA 

'Noah,' Lafayette; colored cast in 
revival; opens tonight. 

Injunction Granted/ Biltmore; 
labor drama. 

The Path of Flowers/ Daly's 63d 
Street. 

•Help Yourself/ Adelphi, farce. 
•Horse Eats Hat/ Elliot; farce. 



TOVARICH' OKE 
$10,000 IN 
BALTO 



Baltimore, Oct 6. 
Legit season legged off to an ex- 
cellent 'start here; not sensational, 
but very promising. 

'Tovarich,' breaking in - at the 
Auditorium last week at $2.75 top, 
scooped in a very good $10,000 on 
eight performances; UBO spot 
Ford's, also did. well with four per- 
formances of- the road-touring 'Pride 
and Prejudice,' -pulling $5,900 at a 
top. that was* 'likewise $2.75.. . Among 
the trade there .was rather a bit of 
breath-holding to- see- how two op-, 
posing shows- would fare. Now 
there^ plenty of optimism all 

around: ... 

'Prejudice' surprised because up- 
stairs-trade was tremendous,' while 
advance dope figured it opposite; 
gallery went clean all performances, 
and balcony play was heavy. 

As has been noted during the past 
several seasons here, Saturday night 
has ceased to be a good legit theatre 
evening; both plays did poorly. 

This week, the only show is 'End 
of Summer/ which commences its 
road-trek at Ford's on Thursday (8) 
for four, times at $2.75 top, Looks 
likely to be a sell-out engagement. 
Next week plenty of heavy pressure 
and competition, with Ford's hous- 
ing a. full-week of 'Great Waltz' and 
the Maryland- having 'Stage Door/ 
which, after opening at the Forrest, 
Philly, last weeki- is laying off in 
N. Y. this stanza while the third act 
is being rewritten by authors Edna 
Ferber and George Kaufman. Ad- 
vance sale for both is good; 

Estimates for Last Week 
'Pride and Prejudice' (Ford's; 
1,988; $2.75). In four performances, 
copped good $5,900, teeming upstairs 
biz bolstering mild lower floor trade. 
This week, four sessions of -'End of 
Summer.' 

Tovarich! [ (Auditorium; 1,500; 
$2.75). : Premiere . of Gilbert Miller 
production that was- smash in Lon- 
don last year chalked up $10,000 in 
full week, very. , good. House 
shuttered. • 



Hoy-Girl' Oke, N. H. 

New Haven, Oct. 6. 
'Stage Door' is doing fine business 
in its three-day stay here. Last 
week, a full one of 'Boy Meets Girl,' 
was okay. 'Children's Hour' is 
booked to follow 'Door' on Oct. 15, 
for three days. 

Originally announced for Oct. 10 
in New York, 'Door' will get in a 
fortnight late. Revisions on the 
third act are forcing additional try- 
'Seen But Not Heard/ Miller's (4th j out time. Show leys off for- thtee 
week) (D-944-$3^0). Chances ap- days in New York, opening in Baltl- 
pear doubtful; rated around $3,000 more on Oct, 12 for a full week. 



M VARIETY 



LEGIT I'M A TE 



• ( 

Wednesday, October 7, 1936 



Plays 




This'll Make You Whistle 

London, Sept. 16. 

Musical In two acts. Book. Guy Bolton, 
Fred Thompson; music and lyrics, Slgler, 
Soodhart and Hoffman; donee arrangement?, 
Buddy Bradley. Produced by Jack 
Buchanan at Palace, Condon, Sept. IS. '3S. 

Bill Hopping .....Jack Buchanan 

Archie Codrlngton David Hutcheson 

Reggie Benson William Ktnd&U 

Joan Longhurat i. ...... .Jean Qillle- 

Lanra Buxton... .Sylvia Leslie 

Mrs. Longhurst Maldie Hope 

Bobble Rivers..,., Elsie Randolph 

Mrs. Crimp. Irene' Vera 

Uncle Sebastian Charles Stone 



Guy Bolton and Fred Thompson 
thought up this routine plot, and 
they collect royalty for it 

Perhaps, after all, producers of 
musical shows' find any old story 
sufficiently adequate to- employ a 
cast, of principals and. chorus. Ap- 
parently the audience thought so on 
the opening, night,, and the critics of 
the daily newspapers, while admit- 
ting, the story was trifling) were sat- 
isfied with the evening's entertain* 
rnenjfc. 

Jack Buchanan sings and dances in 
his- agreeable fashion, and when his 
stepping-, is accompanied by Elsie 
Randolph, it is a joy to watch. Miss 
Randolph improves with each new' 
show, knows Buchanan's steps as 
well as he does, and when they work, 
together it makes for a dual dancing 
turn' that cannot fall to appeal. 
. Remainder of the cast is the usual 
musical comedy aggregation, most 
outstanding . of -whom is David 
Hutcheson. 

'An American dance producer 
named Buddy Bradley came over 
here some years ago and has been 
doing very well putting on numbers 
for West End shows. No fault to 
find with his work,, excepting that 
it is .time he introduced a new move- 
ment.for his.terpsichorean ladies. - 

Nothing Outstanding ... in the 
musical line, -with the possible ex- 
ception of a song 'with the same title 
»s the show. .' . . \, ■ 

So far as is known in this country, 
this is the first time a film of a show 
was made- before the piece was 
brought into the West End. 

Despite, the. antiquity of plot and 
various situations, piece is almost 
certain to be a success, and the film 
will be held back, until the . West 
End displays lack of interest in the 
flesh version. . Jolo. 



HOLGYEK ES URAK 

('Ladies and Gentlemen') 

Budapest, Sept 15. 

Comedy In three acts by Janos Vaszary, 
at the Magyar theatre,- .Budapest. 

Cast: Ella GombasEOKl'-PlrOBka Vasznry. 
Vera Sennyey. Maria Bokor. Martin Kat- 
kay, Eugene Torzs, Zoltan Sxakacs, Theo- 
dore -Blllcsl. . 



THE TIGER 

-■>. - ■■ 

: London, Sept. 23. 
Play In 11 scenes and three *ot« by Regi- 
nald Berkeley, produced by. Ronald Adam 
at Embassy, London, Sept. 14, '36. 

Louise Michel. Joan Millet 

Van Bnae ...Robert Sansom 

General .Lecotnte. ....... ...Mario, Francelli 

Georges ClemeHceau. ...... .William Devlin 

Theophtlo Ferre-.. ......... ..Peter- Aahmore 

Paul Deroulede Noel Howlett 

Dillon .Alexander Knox 

-General Bonlanger Raymond Lovell 

- J?. m "? 2 ,?J»v» Rai De La- Torre 

Claude Monet.... Raymond Lavy 

gn English Statesman Reyner Barton 

His Private Secretary,. ....Tom Maceanley- 
English -General.... Nigel Clarke 

This "one consists of about a dozen 
scenes picturing the career of 
/ Georges Clemenceau from the time- 
. when, as a', young university grad- 
uate, he sees his father denounced 
as a republican and sent to jail, 
.. through a career of 60 years,..and up 
. to the time of his defeat by De- 
schanel. These scenes are episodic, 
and made up of historical incidents. 

Questionable if the life story of the 
tiger' of French politics has very 
. much interest for the public outside 
his native country. . Anyway, it 
isn't a particularly good play and, 
43 a whole, amateurishly acted. 

Outstanding hit is the title-role, 
played by William Devlin, scoring 
effectively with an uncannily well* 
created make-up of the aged Gallic 
statesman. • Jblo. 
' — r~ i 

FOLLOW YOUR SAINT 

London, Sept. 25.. 
Play by Lesley Storm, presented by Basil 
Dean and H. M. Tennent, Ltd., at Queen's. 
London, Sent. 24, .'80. ■ • '• 

M , n,d „' ' V .Pearl Dadswell 

Alec Rothney Nicholas Hannen 

Joanna Rothney Edna Beat 

Charles Hastings ........... .Francis Lister 

David French ....... .Geoffrey Keen 

Chapman ..Raymond Huntley 

Mr. Warren Clifford Marquand 

Inspector Ernest Hare 

Lesley Storm's play introduces 
Geoffrey Keen; son of Malcolm 
Keen, a w.k. actor here. He regis- 
ters an emphatic success. How much 
this success is due to his own tal- 
ents and how much to the role itself, 
will await final decision at some 
future date. 

Several others in the cast are 
equally good, with less showy acting 
assignments. 

Authoress has tried to do a full 
quota on the triangle situation by 
making it a quadrangle. There is 
the husband, wife, lover and an 
Idealistic youth who shoots the 
lover. Audience is asked to become 
absorbingly interested in this pre- 
mise. • 

Not a very successful effort; well 
-written, but unsatlsl-ying. 



Theatrical censure allegedly does 
not exist in. Hungary, but the pa- 
lice and the Minister for Home Af- 
fairs usually see to - it that .plays 
which pass as mild • lemonade in 
Paris, London and New York, are 
relentlessly blue-pencilled after the 
first performance in Budapest. This 
time the censors were- caught nap- 
ping, but it seems likely that 'Ladies 
and Gentlemen' will not conclude its 
run in the blatantly naughty form in 
which it started. ' 

Vaszary is a remarkably clever 
and witty satirist; he knows how to 
get laughs out of unexpected situa- 
tions and cynical dialog, but the 
bitter irony that was tempered- w? + ,h 
a little kindly philosophy in 'Mar- 
riage,' his smash hit of last year, is 
100% nasty in this play. . It's amus- 
ing, but it's a thoroughgoing unpleas- 
ant play. 

Action takes place in the country 
house of a profiteer, where a large, 
and distinguished house-party is as- 
sembled. One of the members, a 
writer, has no scruples about telling 
another man at breakfast that a 
wonderful woman visited him the 
previous night, but he doesn't know 
who. A thorough investigation and 
cross-examination of all 1 the ladies 
present brings to light all sorts of 
alibis: all the, skeletons in every- 
body's cupboards are brought forth 
and the amount of dirty linen 
washed in public is appalling. From 
the 15-year-old- daughter of- the 
house to the highly respectable legis- 
lator, everybody is a slut or a black- 
guard, to put the matter mildly. 

A good cast gets away with all 
the filth; and the dress rehearsal au- 
dience enjoyed.it, but both press and 
word-of-mouth opinion is that it's 
too strong. ' JfacdbU 



SWING ALONG 

London, Sept. 17. 

Musical In two acts By Guy Bolton, Fred 
Thompson, Douglas Furber; lyrics, Graham 
John; music, Martin Broones, presented by 
Firth Shephard at Gaiety theatre. London. 
Produced by Leslie Henson and Herbert 
Bryan. '' 

Llll Breval Louise Browne 

Paul Jerome «,..;. ....Roy Royston 

Jullen BrevAl. ...... ....«...;. Fred Emney 

Miami ..............Zelma O'Neal 

Alphonso .fe.Rlchnrd Hearne 

XaUiakl. ...John E. Coyle 

Georges .Richard Caldlcot 

Maile Mumra. .Leslie Henson 

Mme. Breval Isa Bowman 

Torterro .......Gavin Gordon 



In the face of fulsome notices in 
the dailies and healthy applause on 
the part Of spectators, favorable, 
comment is still hard to make. ' 

Leslie Henson is the. ace' character 
comedian of London and is not one 
of those comics who has the slight" 
est fear of sharing a scene with any 
of his supporting people. As a matter 
of fact he digs up newcomers, and 
often does 'straight' for them; A 
goodly portion of the artists in his 
last big success at the: Gaiety - are 
with him once more. Production is 
smart and the' whole thing well 
rehearsed. 

But Henson has not been well 
served with material. Resort is had 
to old gags. 

Louise Browne gets the largest 
proportion' of applause with her 
artistic dancing; Richard' Hearne is 
badly handicapped through sprain- 
ing a ligament in his leg and being 
unable to do any of his acrobatic 
stepping; Roy Royston, Fred Emney, 
Zelma O'Neal and numerous - others 
contribute to the good effect. Lyrics 
lack class, music is tuneful and oc- 
casionally catchy, but -the gags are 
woefully strained. 

Despite all its faults it is probable 
that Henson and his cohorts will be 
seen in this show at the Gaiety for 
many months. These shows always 
are. Jolo. 



ing and taking on once mora the' 
father of her boy.. 

Although they have been living 
apart for some time, the second hus- 
band is disinclined to free her, 
thereby creating such comedy situa- 
tions as the offspring suggesting to 
his father and mother that they live 
in sin.' 

Entire-second act Is laid in an Eng- 
lish divorce, court; which is an utter 
travesty on actuality, and at times 
descends to burlesque. Apparent 
that what the young author needs, 
is a collaborator, who is skilled and 
experienced in stage situations. 

Evening's entertainment is due in 
no small degree to its interpreters. 
Not only the two amusing stars; but 
the supporting cast, leave little to 
be desired. Ronald Squired irritat- 
ingly magnetic personality (he never 
seems to act) and Miss Arnaud's in- 
fectious chuckle go a long. way. 
toward contributing- to - an evening's 
amusement. ;Voto. 

DO YOU REMEMBER? 

London, Sept. 23. 
Comed.y In . three- twits . and epilog by 
Edith Savlle and John Carlton. Presented 
liy Andre Chariot at Vaudeville theatre, 
London, Sept, 22, '80, Staged by Michael 
HUlman. 

John Winter. Peter Coke- 
Peter Storm.. ....Thorley Walters 

Horace Foitescue.. Richard Newton 

Brnco WoJJe .JPeter Oaborn 

Diana F-lIowes. ; . . .Veronica Rose 

Gladys Brown...,,.., .Phyllis Stanley 

Mark Coleralne... ........ ...Geoffrey King: 

Mrs. Fellowes....... ....Edith Savlle. 

Andre Chariot has essayed the un- 
usual experiment of presenting, a 
play by two young, unknown authors, 
augmented by an unknown cast even 
more youthful, and a stage producer 
whose name does not appear in the 
latest edition of 'Who's Who in the 
Thentre.' 

Experiment is interesting* but the 
show seems to miss. . - 

Entire three acts take place in a 
ramshackle studio building which is 
occupied by a young artist, a .youth- 
ful clerk who thinks he is a finan- 
cier, a young composer, a budding 
author and a girl who takes singing 
lessons. Conventional characters 
that appear in most boarding house 
plays, excepting they are: younger 
and haven't yet tasted the bitterness 
of middle-aged disillusion. 

Usual situations, generated by 
financial stringency, supplemented 
by comic dialog and youthful tragic 
situations that are ludicrous to the 
onlookers. •.*.'.. 

AH this lacks- sufficient stamina, 
but there is an epilog . that is ex 
quisitely and gently moving, where 
in the poor struggling vocalist, be- 
lieving her mother has lost her little 
income and they are. on the verge of 
absolute poverty making it neces- 
sary for her to give up the young, 
indigent author .with whom she is in 
love; meets the son of the author in 
a railway carriage 25 years^later: 
She has just been told, by her 
wealthy • husband . that the- story of 
the mother's poverty was a creation 
of his brain, and she realizes she 
made the sacrifice at the cost of hap- 
piness of herself and the young boy 
she loved. ■ 

Hardly enough Plot to supply ade- 
quate entertainment. Jaco. 

CARELESS RAPTURE 

' London, Sept. 18. 

Musical devised, -written and composed 
by Ivor Novello; lyrics by Christopher Has* 
sail; staged by Leontme Sngan at Prury 
Lane, London, Sept. 11, 'SC. ' 

Lady Triplex ...Nancy Pawley 

Dodo Forest 01 wen Brookes 

Jimmy Torrence.., , Peter Graves 

Phylllda Frame .' .Zena Dare 

Mrs. Ripple... ...... -i Minnie Rayner 

Penelope Lee.w Dprothy Dickson 

Michael .Ivor Novello 

Madame Slmonettl. .......... .Olive Gilbert 

Sir Rodney Alderney.; ...Ivan Samson 

Butler Reg. Smith 

Bill Fraser Frederick Pelsley 

Lo-Slung ...Leonard Granville' 

Sir Malcolm Denby .Ker-ieth Howell 

Miss Bradley BnTbara Sllverliu 

Tony Walter Crlsham- 

Prlnce Mellung. ... David Davles 



Axel an der Hunmebtuer 

('Axel In Front of DMr to Heaven') 

"Vienna, Sept. 23. 

Comedy -with music by Paul Morgan and 
Adolf Schuetx; ornate, Ralph Benatxky. 
At Theatre an der Wlen, Vienna, 

Reporter > ..Max Hansen 

Film Star Zarah Leander 

Manager Scott ..... ........ ..Paul Morgan 



Manager Hellmer of Vienna's once 
foremost operetta theatre had 
planned to run this musical comedy 
for only one month and then pro- 
duce the American stage play *Life 
Begins at Forty.' But 'Axel' proved 
to be the success of the new season. 
Premiere of the American play will 
take place not before December, if 
Axel continues - to draw capacity 
houses, as it is doing. 

Comedy depicts the life of a 
Hollywood screen- star, in love with 
a bogus Italian Count. Reporter for 
the San Francisco Examiner' wins 
her heart ultimately. 

Author of theTKJmedy, Paul. Mor- 
gan, .worked for a long time in 
Hollywood and returned to the con- 
tinent only recently. It was there- 
that he wrote the play; to which 
Benatzky furnished a few nice bits 
of music. 

Influence of American politics can 
be heard in the dialog. For instance, 
reporter kicks about the high taxes 
in California-. A few cracks are also 
taken at 4he New Deal. 

.Max Hansen, Danish-Jewish come- 
dian, plays the reporter's part, He 
does it excellently. Zarah Leander, 
red-haired girl from Sweden, with a 
deep voice, is the ever-nervous star. 
Paul Morgan" shows he learned how 
to behave as a film dictator in Holly- 
wood. ' M.aas. 

THE COMPOSITE MAN 

London, Sept. 16. 
Comedy 1 ift three acta by Ronald Jeans, 
produced by John Fernald, for Carneogle 
Ltd., . *t Daly's Theatre, London, Sept. 
8, '86: • 
Charlotte Transome... ...... Ann Codrlngton 

Carter. Hayley Bell 

Humphrey Mnktn ............... Max Adrian 

Andrew Toung .James Hayter 

Gordon Seep ... . .Michael Dyne 

Audrey Kent , Diana Churchill 

Nicholas Brown.. .Richard Bird 

Albert Eagle Antony Holies 

Gloria Settort-Caranaby. . . .ELspeth Duxbury 

Mr. Meyerbaum Denis Cowles- 

Miss Octavlus Anne Cotton 

Miss Partridge Alison Colvll 

Reporter Hugh Heanley 



LAUGHTER IN COURT 

London, Sept. 17. 

Comedy In three acta .by Hugh Mills, 
presented by Charles B. Cochrun at the 
Shaftsbury Theatre, Sept. 9, '36. Produced 
by John Hastings Turner. 

Thomson. C. Disney Roebuck 

Anthony Crulkshank Anthony Bruco 

[Edward Crulkshank. ..Ronald Squire 

Lady Reeve... Yvonne Arnaud 

Sir George Reeve ..Evelyn' Roberts 

Sir James Granville Edmond Breon 

Sir Harold Bathurst, ICC. .Aubrey Dexter 
Graham Rnthbone, K.C... Wilfred Caithness 
Wllllnm HnpkjnRort...........ErIc MeBBlter 

Foreman of Jury. .'. ....... .Charles Stouavt 



An inconsequential, but delicious, 
comedy, artistically handled by 
Yvonne Arnaud and Ronald 1 Squire, 
but with not sufficient plot to brag 
about. Also the comedy too often 
descends to farce. Author is a new- 
comer with a flair for. neat wit, but' 
seems to lack the gift of creating 
stage situations. 

Woman with a grown-up son has 
divorced her first husband and, when 
the play operu, is desirous of repeat- 



Sheer waste . of time to mention 
the plot of a Drury Lane musical 
spec. This one was devised, written, 
composed and financed by Ivor No- 
vello, who is also its star. Novello's 
investment of time, money and 
brains will yield him an enormous 
profit, as the piece is certain to run 
well into next year. 

Libraries have entered into one of 
the biggest deals yet for seats over 
a longer period than has been made 
at the house in many years. 

This is one of the best of its kind 
ever conceived, and will, as such, 
provide entertainment of a most de- 
lectable kind. 

Three principals are Novello, Dor- 
o.thy Dickson and Zena Dare. No- 
vello makes love rapturously, • but 
gives the impression he is kidding, 
instead of being in earnest. Dorothy 
Dickson still does the graceful whirls 
which attracted so much attention 
when she first came to this country, 
but now sings and plays a part in 
approved musical comedy fashion. 
Zena Dare is strikingly effective- as a 
comedic.me ,and seems to get better 
with each play. 

The' other ingredients, scenery, cos- 
tuming, lighting, etc., are the latest 
in effectiveness. . Jolo. 



Following many years of success 
as a revue writer, and responsible 
for one. serious play, Ronald- Jeans 
here tries his hand at satirical comedy 
which is a joy to lay onlookers, but 
which may stir uneasily the skele- 
tons in the cupboards of some 
famous, people. 

A tennis ace, scorning to turn pro- 
fessional, and broke, is on the eve 
of taking a job in West Africa, when, 
a mistaken address lands him in the 
midst of a Bohemian gathering. 
Strumming over some music he has 
just heard by one of the party , (an 
unknown composer), he is pounced 
upon by a music publisher, who has 
just turned- down other work from 
the same source. He is rushed into 
signing a contract, the publisher be- 
lieving he is the composer, and 
knowing the cash value of his name 
as a tennis champ, 

A business agreement Is entered 
into between the musician and his 
exploiter which leads to more ghost- 
ing in lyric-writing, until the latter 
gets bolder and publishes a novel 
(from the pen of an obscure woman 
writer) and exhibits paintings under 
his name, in reality' the work of the 
young girl who first pulled oft the 
song hoax. - 

Inevitable happens. His quartet of 
ghosts become rapacious and threaten 
exposure. To show them how much 
they have to thank his name for 
their success he disappears for. a 
year, feigning a mountaineering 
death, and all find that none of their 
works sell under their real sig- 
natures. 

Last scene is the flamboyant May- 
fair home of the famous man, now 
turned into a museum of-his 'works,' 
to which he returns disguised with 
a tale of lost memory and ready to 
cash in on all the subsequent pub- 
licity. All this Is crabbed through 
the embittered spinster author of his 
book, furious- at failing to get. any- 
thing published under her real name, 
giving away the whole swindle. 

Society fiancee turns him down in 
disgust, and his artist girl friend 
gets him on the rebound, loyally 
agreeing to share his penurious 
future. Final laugh is an onslaught 
of various newspapers rushing him 
with fabulous offers to print the»»in- 
side story of how he fooled the 
public. 

Richard Bird makes a shy, charm- 
ing character of the leading role, and 
Diana Churchill does full justice to 
the loyal, patient artist who does so 
much to help his career, Elspeth 
Duxbury as the petted Mayfair- 
beauty, is happily cast. Music pub- 
lisher of Anthony Holies is a gem of 
a characterization. Supporting cast 
gives every satisfaction. Jofo. 

F.D.R.'s ITtENCH EXPO INVITE 
Paris, Oct. 6. • 
At the suggestion of Paul Claudel, 
former French ambassador to the 
United States, the French . govern- 
ment has sent an invitation to Presi- 
dent Franklin D. Roosevelt to at- 
tend the opening of the Paris Ex- 
position next year. 



Murder on Account 

London; Sept 26. 

Melodrama In two acts (12 scenes) by 
Hayden Talbot and Katnlyn Hayden, pre- 
sented by R, H. F.; Ltd., by arrange- 
ment with All People* Theatre, Ltd., at 
Whiter Garden, London, Sept. 25, 'W. 
Helen Wninwrlght. ......... Rosalinda Fuller 

Howard Scott.,.,.*.;. G. H. Mulcaster 

Morgan Archibald McLean 

Joan StockbrldgA....... .... Beatrice Radley 

YiaA- ■ Pamela Stockbrtdge. Dorothy DIx 

r John Marshall ...William Roderick 

Inspector Bronjson, C.LD. .Hllarry Pritchard 
Grant.,.. Cameron Hall 



Following a Sunday performance 
by the Repertory Players four 
months ago, this 'ingenious melo- 
drama had its West End premiere at 
pop prices, under a new producing 
concern. All Peoples Theatre, Ltd., 
sponsored by Lady Townshend. 

Idea, is original but intermittent 
flashbacks, with the past and present 
threaded together, through the me- 
dium of spotlight cameos at both 
sides of the stage, are apt to be dis- 
concerting. It makes the- develop- 
ment patchy and disjointed and con- 
fuses the audience. 

As a film vehicle, it should be 
effective, for these- reconntings of 
past events are obviously easier to 
denote on the screen, and the drama, 
of the situations would then be more 
gripping; 

- Theme is the impossibility of 
charging a person- for a crime of 
which he has already been con- 
victed and paid the -penalty; In this 
case a woman allows herself to be 
condemned for the murder of her 
husband, whose supposed body is . 
found in her cellar;. fact .that he is a 
fugitive .from .Justice and hounded 
by fellow crooks is the reason for 
her action. If believed dead she 
figures he "will be safe from pur- 
suit. 

Being ah expectant mother, she 
escapes hanging. After some time 
she obtains a pardon and joins her 
sister, who has brought up the child 
as hers, and, for nine years, she acts 
as companion to her own daughter. 
Discovering a secret love affair with 
a married man, and an imminent 
elopement, the distracted mother 
goes to his flat to beg him to give the 
girl up, and discovers he is her own 
husband. In a frenzy she tries to 
stab him, -but. collapses. . 

Charge of assault brought against 
her is dropped by the man and the 
Court proceeds with an application 
by the daughter, a minor, for per- 
mission to marry him. When this is 
given the. real mother draws a 
gun and kills him in the court-room. 

On trial for this murder, her coun- 
sel-dramatically gets the case against 
her dismissed by declaring the man- 
is her missing husband, for whose 
murder she was sentenced 20 years 
previously; therefore she is. in- 
violable by law. 

Some crudities in construction, 
notably that of unfolding the crux 
of the plot in a scene placed at the 
beginning of the. second of the two 
acts, with numerous people not yet 
seated, and later finding it difficult 
to follow- the story. 

Male roles are generally well han- 
dled, and Rosalinde Fuller gives full ■ 
dramatic rein to the embittered, 
wronged wife, -but in the young 
bride scenes she behaves like a girl 
of 12, giving an imitation of Elisa- 
beth Bergner, sans dialect. Dorothy 
Dix makes the most of her brief ap- 
pearances as the widowed sister. • 

William Roderick as the lawyer 
stands out from the remainder of the 
cast by virtue of his role. His com- 
manding voice dominates the Court' 
proceedings.- A comedy bit is well 
played by Archibald 'McLean. ' 

Such constructional difficulties as 
exist at present, lend' themselves 
readily to correction. Venture has 
better than an even chance at pop- 
ular prices. 

GIRL UNKNOWN 

London, Sept. 17. 

Play by Ferenc Molnar,' adapted By Mar- 
garet "Webster, produced by Owen Nares 
at New theatre, London, Sept. 18. '80. 

Proprietor of Bar .Andrea. Malandrlnos 

Anna., .Lucie' Mannheim 

Count Armalla ....Frederick Lloyd 

Carlo ■..;.;..* Humphrey Morton 

Stephano....-; Alexander Archdale 

Dr. Tiring. .. .Leonard Sachs 

•NurBe Lisa j..,.. ..Margaret Webster 

Rufo Pallattl .....Ballard Berkeley 

Aldo Nelson Welch 

Dr. Conrad... Wyndham Goldle 

Mrs. Pallattl..... Isobel Ohmead 

Countess Fontana. .....Helen Ferrers 

Admiral Balslnl H. G. Stoker 

Georglo Selvl. Hugh Miller 

Max...... ...Marlua Goring 



An adaptation of a Ferenc Molnar 
play is always interesting. Trouble 
with this one is that it possesses just 
one straightforward episode padded 
out into two or more hours. This 
sort of thing was much better done 
in the days when they had curtain- 
raisers, or' played serious sketches in 
the variety theatres. Whole thing 
could have been effectively told in 
about 20 minutes. • 

Only interest for the audience is 
in the performance of Lucie Mann- 
heim. There is a vogue here just 
now for dramatic actresses with 
German accents. Play shows her as 
two totally different beings. There 
is a plethora of sob stuff for the sus- 
ceptible, and Miss Mannheim puts 
this over like an experienced player. 

Other members of the company 
acceptably enact their conventional 
roles, and the stage direction is old- 
fashioned, possibly due to the script- 
Definitely not in the hit class. 



Wednesday, October 7, 1936 



LEGITIMATE 



VARIETY 57 




WHITE HORSE INN 

Operetta, in three nets presented at 
' Center, N. Oct. 1, '30. by Laurence 
fivers, Inc. ; book, Hans Mullen adapted- 
.iw David Freedraan; lyrics. Irving Caesar; 
music. Ralph Benatzky; staged -by. Erik 
Charell :.*8.85 top, 

pepl* 1 • • \ . •«*t«*t4iM»iM • • » • . \ .-« iReverelly. 
Piccolo. •« ••• .Tommy Ga,vln, 

§ a nnl • • Marie Marlon 
sad Forester Oscar Ragland 

Beozlv .-..Eleanor Bauman 

Cook's Guide..... ....Albert- -Mahler 

Franz......... Floyd Cornaboy 

Teooold. "William Gaxton 

farina :;..*« Kitty Carlisle 

' Honeymooners.. (Mary, Sutherland, 

. t Hal Voeth 

Captain of Steamboat.. ..... .Grover White 

. William McGqnlgle ....Billy Home 

Natalie...... >.••. •< ..Carol Stone 

Bcmald Hutton Robert Halllday 

Hotel Porter..; .Milton Gill 

professor Hlnzelman.,.,, Frederick Graham 

GMtel • >. ........ ..Melissa. Mason 

Sylvester Buster West 

Fstmer Thomas......... : Maurice Carr 

Farmer Waldman... .....John Barry 

Butcher Spilth «... Martin LeRoy 

Baker Kaufman., John Albert 

Fanner Ohristensen .........Ed Smith 

JllW Kattenjammer. . , Almlra Sessions 

Emperor. Arnold KorfC 



It took Erik Charell a long time to 
get 'White Horse Inn' on at the 
Center, but he did, one of the most 
showmanly jobs Broadway has wit- 
nessed in years. There is little 
doubt that, from a production stands- 
point, the show will be the season's 
oiristander. 

: Again Radio City is in legit. Con- 
Version of the smaller of the two 
Rockefeller theatres with The Great 
'.. JWalts' was the talk of the town two 
'seasons ago, and that is the way it 
will be with 'Inn.' There was a 
{prevalent Broadway idea that the' 
operetta form was outmoded, but 
ihe "Waltz* affair proved differently, 
Vand, while there may be little to 
/compare between the two shows, the 
newer one seems to be tops, despite 
'the fact it has been all around 
Europe. 

•White Horse Inn,' whatever the 
resemblances to its foreign presen- 
tations, has color and brilliance in 
settings and costumes. It has sev- 
eral catchy tunes, it has rich atmos- 
. phere and it has novelty. They 
. iussed about the casting and doubt- 
less made some errors of judgment, 
but, somehow, it came out all-right. 

Rowland Stebbins., who is known 
under the name of Laurence Rivers, 
Inc., in show business, is the technical 
presenter. His running mates are 
• the Rockefeller interests and War- 
ners. Combined, they went for 
nearly $300,000, and .again the prob- 
lem of what to do with the Center 
has apparently been solved. Tie-ups 
that aided 'Waltz,' such as virtually 
i free radio time and gas station bill- 
:' board space, will probably be ar- 
! ranged for 'Inn.' As will also the 
regular orchestral plugs and film 
'■ trailers in R. C. Music Hall, plus -the 
, usual Rockefeller Center displays, 
; heralds, billposters, literature, etc. It 
: .. is more positive that the house is 
not needed for pictures and it may 
typify the expected eastward swing 
of show business, away from Broad- 
way. „ 

. The yodel is back, though vaude 
is , through. From the moment 
buxom Reverelly appears in a set- 

. piece on the proscenium sides and 
gives out that cheerful Tyrolean 

. note the show is oh -and in. They 

. imported a dozen male 1 dancers from 
their native mountains for the slap- 
ping number. ' That goes on twice 

- and there is a contest between two 
experts, one nearly getting his dome 
Slaoped off. 

Story has to do mostly with the 
affection- that head waiter Leopold 
. has for* Katarina; young mistress' of 
the White Horse Inn, and, in a way, 
the show glorifies waiters. But there 
is. so much , to see that the plot re- 
<cedes, -though never dropped. 

An American manufacturer of 
bathing suits and his daughter ar- 

' live and the girl is part of a sec- 
ondary romance with the attorney 
of a rival of her dad's. David Freed- 
jnan toyed with the book and Irving 
Caesar supplied the new, American- 
ized lyrics. Regardless of what the 
original was,- the performance is 
aypoed with understandable stuff. 

Settings give the impression of 
mountain vastness, a playground 
tucked away in . the hills. Entrances 
are often made from the proscenium 



sides. A moving platform on the 
extended apron brings on tables -and 
other props. Lobby is enlivened 
with shop windows and with girls 
selling gadgets. All of it may be 
Ibreign; but it is friendly and differ- 
ent.' Cost- may be too great lor re-' 
capture.-but, if not in New York, the 
•investment- may be won back on the 
road, which was the way it went 
with 'Waltz.' 

William Gaxton and Kitty Carlisle 
-are co-starred as Leopold and Kata- 
rina. She came from Hollywood, 
and, after 'Inn,' is quite likely to 
return there. Charell curried ihe 
field of the male lead, and, after it 
was decided that Jimmy Savo was 
not a happy choice, called in Gaxton. 
He turns in one of the best perform- 
ances of his career. 
. As for the picture version, rights 
for which Warners have, it can be 
Al Jolson or Eddie Cantor. Okay 
for either one, or that type of male 
comic. 

Comedy is not heavy, but ample, 
what with Billy House capering 
around in Tyrolean shorts, jacket 
and feathered hat He is the bathing 
suit mugg, and his daughter is played 
by comely Carol Stone. Miss Car- 
lisle carries -the femme singing as- 
signments, with Robert Halliday on 
the other end. Her "Leave It to 
Katarina,' by Jara Benes, is the first 
number click, while Halliday's 'Blue 
Eyes,' with Miss Stone, will probably 
he the show's topper. 'Good-bye, Au 
Revoir, Auf Wiedexsehn,' and 'White 
Horse Inn' by the original composer, 
Ralph Bendtzky, are two other possi- 
bilities; also 'I Would Love to Have 
You Love Me,' an item on which 
Sammy Lerner and Gerald Marks 
collabed with Caesar. 

In addition to the yodel, which is 
not permitted to become boring, 
Charell dug up the pogo stick item 
for a girl number. That reminds of 
the late Flo Ziegfeld's novelty in the 
'Midnight Frolics.' 

A cowshed scene . with comedy 
prop milk-givers is another amusing 
interlude. 

Two hoofers came near to stopping 
the show, Buster West and Melissa 
Mason teaming. Their type of 
dancing is on the comic side, with 
the girl in one number trying to 
throw her legs away. Miss Mason is 
tall and slim, with a style not seen 
around here since Charlotte Green- 
wood. Arnold Korff is used in the 
last act, playing Emperor Francis 
Joseph. He does it well, but con- 
versation late in the show could be 
sliced. Tommy Gavin, who is. Leo- 
pold's assistant, is an unusual kid. 

About 30 minutes were taken out 
of the dialog after the onehing. with 
the curtain now down at 11:15. Nearly 
midnight at the premiere, but few 
-walk-outs except by critics with a 
deadline. lbee. 



Love From a Stranger 

Melodrama in three acts presented Sept. 
29. '80, at the Fulton, N. T., by Alex 
Tbkel; adapted from Agatha Christie's 
novel of same name; Frank Vosper fea- 
tured;- staged ny-Aurlol Lee; 43.-10 top. 

Louise Garrard ; Minna Phillips 

Mavis Wilson Olive Reeves-Smith. 

Cecily Harrington Jeraie .Royce Lmdis 

Brace -Lovell Frank Vosper 

Nigel Lawrence.., : Leslie Austen 

Hodgson. ..... A. G. Andrews 

Ethel... , Mildred Nntwlck 

'Dr. Grlbble George Gruham 



Second thrill play emanating from 
London in two nights, first having 
been 'Night Must Fall,' which is a 
much better play, 'Love From a 
Stranger' is, a doubtful entry. 

Two . mellers opposed each other 
over there, and for that reason, 
'Night' was rushed onto Broadway 
ahead of schedule. Fact that the lat- 
ter was speeded and -the script short- 
ened after the premiere indicated 
the switch was not necessary. Two 
psychopathic murder plays have a 
number of similarities. Perhaps not 
the : least of these is that the authors 
of both play the leads. 

'Stranger 1 takes too long to get to 
the point, and .it might have served 
better as a one act thriller. First 
two acts supply the atmosphere of 
English home life.- There is a sug- 
gestion of the ominous in both, but 
the void- is partly taken up in 'Night' 



"THE MOST NOTEWORTHY NEWCOMER IS MISS 
PATRICIA . BOWMAN WHO CONTRIBUTES SOME REAL 



DANCING." 



Evening Standard, London, England 



PATRICIA BOWMAN 

AMERICA'S PRIMA BALLERINA 

CURRENTLY STARRING IN 
"b'KAY FOR SOUND" 

PALLADIUM, London 



by «omedy, an element that 
'Stranger' lacks. 

Seems almost like a contest be- 
tween Emlyn Williams of 'Night' arid 
Frank Vosper of 'Stranger,' with the 
odds on Williatns. "Vosper, in mak- 
ing his American debut,, is so-so un- 
til the third act and then Jessie 
Royce Landis comes near to stealing 
the show away from him. She en- 
acts a part that is also psychopathic, 
a more definite type than the oppo- 
site in Wight.' 

Cecily Harrington has won 50 G's 
in a sweepstake and plans an ocean 
voyage, possibly with her fiance just 
arriving from the Soudan. They have 
been that way for five years and the 
girl is doubtful that marriage with 
him would be welcome. Bruce Lov- 
ell, just back from foreign parts, 
calls to see Cecily's apartment, which 
he leases. He makes immediate ad- 
vances to Cecily, who concedes a 
mutual attraction, something she had 
thought impossible. She dismisses 
the fiance. 

Cecily is wed to the stranger and 
they, take a house in the country, 
sans telephone, which is another 
similarity between the two plays. 
Lovell has a yen for reading famous 
crime trials, and one in particular 
has to do with 'Blacky* Bellingham, 
known as the murderer of five wom- 
en. He has escaped conviction, but 
it was later proved he was guilty. 
He had changed- his appearance, 
principally by becoming blond. 

Locked in with a madman, Cecily 
overcomes the homicide, who has 
married and murdered other women 
■for their money. By the power of 
suggestion she makes him believe he 
has been poisoned. It is simple hyp- 
nosis, and the man collapses under 
the spell, his ticker stopping. 

Vosper and Miss Landis have most 
of the lines and are on most of the 
time. Others in this short cast play 
are unimportant, except Mildred 
Natwich, portrayer of old women, 
but this time a half-wit maid. She 
does her best in a part that is not 
as welT built up as It could have 
been. 

'Stranger' has the benefit of good 
showmanship belQnd it, but whether 
this can overcome the play's weak- 
nesses is questionable. Ibee. 



LEND ME YOUR EARS 

Comedy by Philip Wood and Stewart 
Beach,, presented by Peters, Weenolseri & 
Field at Mansfield, N T., Oct. 5, 1986. 
Features Walter C. Kelly. Staged by Leo 
Bulgakov. Top, 93.30. 

Junior Beam Robert Mayors 

Wallace Tltcomb Cliff Heckinger 

Wlila Beam.... , ..Jane Seymour 

Marjolalne Beam Lynn Mary Oldham 

Jasper Beam Walter C. Kelly 

Fred Carpenter John F. Kirk 

Daphne Wayne Mary Holsman 

Steve Delaney Bertram Thorn 

Ed Flanagan Robert Williams. 

Clayton Sommers. ..McLaln Gates 

.Hermann Pratt Frederick Kaufman 

Clifford Pine ..,Jack Harwood 

Mrs. Sterling .Tutt. Llda- Kane 

Ann Harmon '. ...'Ann Wlnthrop 

Polly Andrews, Lucille Conrad 

Mrs. Wllloughby -. Sara Floyd 

Mike McCartney .....Clyde Franklin 



'Lend Me Your Ears' is a comedy 
which fails to attain its goal, almost 
becoming a ° tragedy instead. It is 
unstable equipment for the Virginia 
Judge of vaudeville, Walter C. Kelly, 
and for supporting - member^ of the 
cast, who find their assignments 
-equally unproductive. There ap- 
pears slight .prospect thaf the play 
can go anywhere, including Holly- 
wood. It hasn't enough body to sug- 
gest screen possibilities. 

Kelly plays a smalltown- hardware 
merchant who has a penchant for 
speechmaking. ~ Role fits him. well, 
but hasn't got what a - character 
comedian like Kelly needs. Fact that 
he is badly handicapped makes it 
difficult for him to push his way into 
audience favor, ■ something that's 
easy for the old Virginia Judge when 
he has the proper material. 

For no very convincing reason, 
some newspaper people steam Kelly 
into thinking he should run. for 
mayor of his village. Before the 
buildup, apparently for circulation 
reasons, has reached its height, he 
is being boomed for president, with' 
opposition factions of a' political 
character finally getting on - the 
bandwagon. Situations are far from 
unique, dialog is commonplace and 
the efforts or Kelly and Others to get 
laugbs a failure. There are a few 
fair-sized laughs but none that 
reach belly proportions. 

From Jane Seymour, playing his 
wife, Kelly receives admirable sup- 
port. When she leaves him to return 
to her mother, believing he has 
fallen for a newspaper gal and black- 
ened the family name by unwittingly 
contracting to let a nudist organiza- 
tion hold -a convention in their town, 
it looks like the play might develop 
some unusual comedy situations. It 
fails to do so. however, and the cur- 
tain comes down on three acts that 
have been pretty borinp. 

Four newspaper people, including 
a managing editor, are Jack Har- 
wood, Mary Holsman, Bertram 
Thorn and Robert Williams. They 
represent an uninteresting wise- 
cracking group which adds no color 
to an otherwise drab vehicle. .For a 
finish. Harwood, managing ed. and 
Miss Holsman, one of his reporters, go 
into a clinch. It had never been 
suspected up to within minutes cf the 
curtain. Harwood turns in the best 
job among those in newspaper roles. 
Miss Holsman suffers from faulty 
diction. 

Minor parts are carried off com- 
petently by McLain Gates, Frederick 
Kaufman, Sara. Floyd and Clyde 



Franklin. Two youngsters are in the 
cast but meaningless. They are 
Robert Mayors and Lynn Mary Old- 
ham. 

Entire action is in the home of the 
hamlet hardware man. Play is done 
in one set. Char, 

MIMIE SCHELLER 

Melodrama In three acts by Alfred L. 
Golden; presented by Ned Jacobs at Bitz, 
N. T., Sept. 30, *30; features Ara Gerald; 
staged by Dickson. Morgan; set, Criker & 
Robins; $3.30 top. 

Frank Healy .....Edward Blaine 

Joe Matthews.. Calvin Thomas 

Mike Pratt..... Morgan Conway 

Deputy Warden John Vosburgh 

Warden , Herbert Warren 

Hank Fisher........ Conrad Cantzen 

Matron Marsh.. a ,.., Marie Curtis 

Len Shay.......i....,,. BIgelow Sayre 

Williams ...Gordon McCracken 

Matron Wlnthrop Ann Williams 

Prison Physician ; Richard Allen 

Chaplain ..John Davis 

Mlmle STcheller...., Ara Gerald 

For the third time in three nights 
murder walked the stage on Broad- 
way in this play. This one, however, 
won't walk long. It's an exaggerated 
over-written and lurid meller which 
doesn't stand much chance. 

Entire action takes place in the 
death house of a jail. Against that 
set the producer essays the danger- 
ous and sometimes, onerous task of 
having his cast act up. It isn't very 
delectable. And it isn't very good 
theatre. Same background was used 
for The Last Mile' some years ago, 
but the analogy ends with the set 

Mimie Scheller is supposed to be 
the toughest dame ever. She's killed 
about 20 guys. In the first act, one of 
her henchmen is in the can, doomed 
to take the hot squat. At the last 
minute he squeals; that wins him a 
pardon and the cops go to get the 
dame. Next two -acts show her kick- 
ing up a rumpus. Finale has her led 
through the little door and momen- 
tary dimming of the lights as the 
juice goes on. 

If all this were treated honestly it 
might mean something. Instead it's 
spread on thick and played as 
hokum. Ara Gerald, featured, does 
the title role with red hair, a hip- 
swinging strut, and singing 'Ah, 
Sweet Mystery of Life' raucously. 
Interspersed with plenty of the kind 
of language ladies just shouldn't use. 

Supporting company is none too 
good, although in justice, the lines 
they have to handle are terrible 
handicaps. Nearest thing to good act- 
ing is turned in by Calvin Thomas as 
a philosophical cop. Kauf. 

STORK MAD 

Comedy In three acts (one set) by Lynn 
Root and Frank Fenton. Presented by 
James R. Ullman nt ArrJ-nssador, N. T., 
Sept. 30, '88. Staged by William Schorr; 
setting, S. SyrJaJa; ' |3.30 top. 

Harry Dever • ....'.- Lynn Root 

Hank Dever ', Marlon Willis 

Grandpap Dever s, ..Carleton Macy 

Mary Dever Dortha Duckworth 

Peter Dever Jackie Grimes 

Matthew Dever Percy Kilbride 

Annie Preston Ann Thomas 

Dr. Guthrie .Arthur Griffin 

Jed Peters Edward F. Nannnry 

Sam Peters ...Alfred Herrlck 

Cedrlc. Preston Walter Jones 

Preacher Perkins George .Glass 

Judas Dever Warren Mills 

Mellnda Dever ..Patsy Roe 

Paul Dever Donald Brown 

Sheriff Hlgglns Hale Norcross 

Emma Peters Mary McQuade 

Lynn Root and Frank Fenton did 
about as well as they could by 
stretching what is no more than a 
blackout situation .into a -full-length 
play; but it's still a blackout Despite 
the running time there's nothing left 
after the first act. 

Show's only possible* escape from 
complete mediocrity lies in the fact 
that it .obtains more audience laughs 
than most bad shows. Laughs are 
due chiefly to a few corking .lines 
by the authors, and the expert per- 
formance of Percy Kilbride. ' 

Drawing their inspiration from 
the .current Canadian 'baby derby,' 
the authors had a funny idea to 
start with, but they were misled into 
overestimating its lasting qualities. 
Where they make, their mistake is in 
adhering to the idea too faithfully 
for three solid acts,- without change 
of pace or thought. Without varia- 
tion, the theme becomes too much 



for the cast, as well as for the 
writing. 

In this baby, derby the characters 
do almost nothing except breed 
babies. Off-stage births (32 are ar- 
ranged by the immediate family) are 
good for a laugh per birth at first 
but not for long. After the father of 
the family has set a fast pace during 
the 10-year period covered by the 
play, bringing in 10 offspring in that 
time, only to be tied by the local vil- 
lain/ one of the' sons wins the $500,- 
000 prize. Like* the guy who copped 
first prize for having the funniest 
face although he wasn't playing, the 
son,, who -isn't, even considered an 
entrant makes a stretch drive with 
a. set, of., quadruplets at the last 
mpmehtj giving' him a score of 12 
and "the money. 

' ' Kilbride, 'as the' producing father, 
egged on 'all' the" while by his family 
a«d tormented by his chief opposish, 
dominates the -play,- He's an artist at 
tossing away- lines that would get 
the milking stool from most actors. 
Kilbride does it. the hard way, but 
when he gets there he's in. Author 
Root doubles as the unwilling win- 
ner. 

Through all the action the mother 
is a leading point of interest but 
never, appears on the stage. She's 
always upstairs 'laborinV When 
not laborin',' ma- and the other 
women involved in the action are 
.foalinV 

- It deals with a theme that couldn't 
be anything but dirty if 'it wanted 
to, and plain dirt isn t enough. 

(Withdrawn Saturday alter five 
performances; printed for the . 
record.) Sige. 



Opt of Town 



HAMLET 

. Toronto, Sept 30. 
Guthrie McCllntlc presents -John Gielgud 
and Judith Anderson in tragedy by William ' 
Shakespeare, with Arthur Byron and UllUan 
GIsb; staged by Gnthrle McCllntlc; sets and 
costumes, Jo MIeliiner; at Royal Alexandra, 
Toronto. Sept. 80, '«6; 18.50 top. 

Francisco, Murvyn Vy» 

Bernardo.,,... ............. .-Reed Herring 

Horatio.. ...................Harry Andrews 

MarcellusV. Barry Kelly 

Ghosh . _ 

Claudius... .... .............. Malcolm Keen. 

Cornelius.. ..................... .John -Stern 

Voltlroand.. .••••••••....-.James DInan 

Laertes •...•••••••••••••John Emery 

Polonlus ......•••••••.•.Arthur Byron 

Hamlet.. ..................... John Glelgud 

Gertrude . ............ ...... Judl th Anderson 

Ophelia .Lillian Gish 

Reynaldo ....Murvyn Vy* 

Rosencrantz. John Cromwell 

Gulldenstern William Roebrlck 

Player King..... Harry Mestayer 

Prolog .Ivan Tries oult 

Player Queen .R-uth March 

Luclanufi .Whltner Blssell 

ForUnbroa Reefl Herring 

Captain George Vincent 

Gentleman '..'......Whltner Blssell 

Sall.r , William Stanley 

First Gravedlgger ...George Nash 

Second Gravedlgger... , ...Barry Kelly 

Priest..- Ivan Trlesault 

-Osrlc... .........Morgan Farley 



A splendid cast and a lavish pro- 
duction marks the McClintic presen- . 
tation of 'Hamlet' in which John 
Gielgud makes his American debut 
and scores. Tragedy goes into the 
Empire, N. Y„ Thursday <8>. 

It is inevitable -that academic com- 
parisons will be made. of Gielgud's 
interpretation and the portrayals of 
(Continued on page 43) • 




I Ml LLth 

« . « the shoe of the moment 




12 



75 



>MILUR> 



It moulds your foot like 
a sleek girdle. It has a 3- 
way Lastex goring at 
sides and front. And a 
luxurious boot -like prin- 
cess silhouette. See it, try 
it on, wear it. You'll love itl 

Jet Block, groan or Vintage 
luedej high or medium heel. 



155 2 BROADWAY o P .„ /,/» « p.m. 



Wednesday, October 7, 1936 f 




Circulation of New York Dailies 



Circulation reports by all New York daily publications to the N, Y. 
Post Office as of October, 1936, as required by postal law,; • 1 " 

Comparison with figures of one year ago are: 

Oct. 1, 1936 Oct. 1, 1935 

Daily Mirror 603,621 563,718 

Daily News 1,629,178 lfi \ 6 Al\ 

Daily News Record . 11,247 

M. P, Daily ,^ 5,431 ; ; ; ?5oI 

Film Daily 5,493 , 5,«* 

Journal of Commerce 19,559 .i„'„„„ 

American • 422,034 •■£*•££' 

Evening Journal .A. 652 * 428 

Evening Post A. ...... 205,962 - - . ^-^'IK 3 

Herald-Tribune ....... 352,619 . 340, 688 

World-Telegram .|»^ V -- :: -"- ::::: S? ! lS 

Times StSt 

Sun 312,535 . 301,115 

Women's * Wear i. 30,20d 29,315 



Davis.' Denver Job 
With the naming of . Harry Walker 
as financial editor of the Denver 
News; the financial pages in that city 
are under the guidab.ee- of father and 
son. Thomas Walker, the father, has 
been, financial, editor of the market 
pages on the Denver Post forsev-. 
eral years. Harry Walker has. been 
a reporter on the News, and with 
the increase; of financial space in the 
News to- two pages instead, of one, 
Forrest Davis, editor, picked young 
Walker for the job. .As his. assistant 
Davis named Wilmer Walmsley, 
Denver resident for three" years, for- 
merly hv«harge of the Wall Street 
office of the N. Y. Times. 

This being Davis' first executive, 
position, the News, 'under his guid- 
ance, is a. matter of journalistic im- 
portance. The .News has been one 
of the weakest properties owned-by 
Scripps-Hpward and partly as the 
residt of a. nearly disastrous battle 
with the Denver Post ovec.want ads 
years ago, has been 1 pearly; on the 
rocks. This year 'S-H '.bbop'ped\'$8,000 
off ' its operating -expense- 'crowd 



Donald A, Craig Dead 

' Donald Alexander Craig, 52, Wash- 
ington newspaperman and father of 
Don Craig, Jr., Variety's correspond- 
ent in the capital; died Sept 28 at 
his home there. 

Craig began his career as a writer 
on the Washington Star, after his 
graduation from George Washington 
U. law school in 1909, and was at 
various times Washington corre- 
spondent for the" Louisville-Courier 
Journal, Toronto Evening Telegram, 
Paris- Herald, New York . Sun, New 
York Herald Tribune and the -Port* 
land (Me.) Press-Herald,-.; ". 

Survived .by. widow, .Mrs! Elizabeth 
May Craig, his son and a daughter, 
Mrs. Albert A. Clagett. 



. 'Raises. Bates, Ads - Cut 
Atlanta Journal's new rates, of 
$2.80 per inch fbr amusement ad- 
vertising proved a boomerang When 

five 'A' theaters out of Atlanta's six 
slashed their space sharply', to take 
up the slack between the old asking 
price of $2.52 . and the new. 
r-.. - ' Rag's Sunday theatrical section 
ing all departments.uxits.o.wn.buud-i^jjarren, appearance, in so far as 



ing- and using that -money -to- expand 
the-sheet. Finafcpi&'atid.*&#.ts have 
been doubled - -to • two- pages • each, 
dai)y.-' Sunday s]torte;nqw;gets six 
pages Instead- of Hhe '.'former', four. 
Woman's . page ■ space' •-li'ke'w i s e 
boosted.- " .'.'.'.V/.V. 
. Davis declares he is- not -in Denver 
to. fight the Post^iilJ'. td.get But a 
paper that people- will -buy. • -Increase 
in circulation since the [ Davis .regime 
started is around'. 5,000, tetter than 
,'i0%, both' daily and- Sunday. A few 
local merchants'. Kalve. .been putting 
on. the ' heat ' because the paper Is 
backing the New'DeaX'but'have not 
pulled out— just cut down "space. 
'The News- has moved its first edi- 
' tion up from 9 to 7 pjn., and expects 
- soon to give Denver' something the 
.town -hasn't had to date— an entirely 
: new flr^t edition, with, no- pickup. 
• ifxojh ,tjie; day . .before; . The' sheet is 
' getting "along without a managing 
editor; Larry Siski- sent here with 
Davis; quit thjs job when he found he. 
couldn't stand the altitude.. Davis 
says he. may not pick a successor to 
' Sisk until the first of the year, and 
hopes to find a local maitfor the job. 

Esquire • Syndicate * Set io Go 

.Esquire Syndicate, has 11 features 
which are expected to be ready for 
' release at the end of the month,- 
One 61 theni will be a serialization 
of Laurence Greene's book, 'America 
Goes to press,'- iof Sunday Telease^ 
which will tell the '; history of the 
U..S. fr6m contemporary newspaper 
accounts, beginning with the Boston 
Tea. Party. ..Feature will be illusr 
trated vrith woodcuts, drawings' and 
prints. " .' ."' '• ''.' '■' .'.- ' 
• Bob (Bazooka) Burns, Par film 
comedian, is the No. 1 feature, and 
gets a guarantee of $500 per week. 
Paul Webb, whose cartoons are fea- 
tured in Esquire mag, will do a- daily- 
hillbilly, strip titled The Mountain 
Boys.' Howard Denby . is editor of 
the service.' 



business was concerned, but prac 
tically 'the same amount of space 
was devoted to art and stories plug- 
ging current programs of the the 
aters. Rates of Georgian-American, 
other afternoon sheet, remain at 
$2,52, while $2.80 has been ' estab- 
lished levy, of Constitution' (morn- 
ing) for years, " ■' 



Baughan Quits London Chronicle - 

E. A. Baughan has been compelled 
to relinquish his. post as .dramatic 
critic of the News Chronicle of Lon- 
don, owing to ill health and advanc- 
ing years. 

One of the veteran critics of the 
old school, he made, a large reputa- 
tion for himself, based 0ff:hisTtbTiity~ 
and integrity; Bernard Shaw gave a 
gentle caricature of him .under the 
name of 'Mr. Vaughan' in 'Fanny's 
First Play.' 



Tide Now Twice-Monthly 

v Tide, • heretofore a monthly "with 
small -news -letter supplements . be- 
tween issues, will now be published 
twice monthly. * •' . 

David Frederick is the new editor*, 
succeeding * Mildred Edie, ' who- re- 



Frank Brace. Dead 

Frank Brace, 64, .ait editor of - Harr 
court, Brace & Co-., died in N» Y. 
Oct 4 after . an illne's^ . of several 
months. In 1892 tie- -founded the 
West Winfleld (N. Y.).Star; a weekly 
newspaper, and. in l8^8.came to N.Y, 
C. to join the. American Press, Ass'n 
Later he; .was with '.the '.Frank' Pres; 
brey agency. • 

When Har court, . Brace was estab- 
lished in 1915, with his son, Donald 
C. Brace, as one of .the founders', he 
joined the firm in an editorial ca- 
pacity." "Besides his' son, Donald, 
vice-president, of the firm, he is sur- 
vived by another son, Ernest -Brace, 
a writer. 



. Robot 'ttewrlte' Man 

New' recording" instruments, using 
a diminutive metal sound track mod- 
eled after that used on talking pic- 
ture negative, are being installed in 
offices of 'several N.Y. daily papers 
and national press associations. Some 
are still on the try-out or testing 
stages but at least one met daily 
publication and one press association 
is reported to have definitely in- 
stalled the new layout. 

Invention enables leg-men to ask 
for the private number hooking up 
with the equipment and dictate com- 
plete news story which is taken 
down automatically on the steel- 
sound track. After that it is simply 
matter of running the metal tape 
through a recording machine and 
having a typist copy as she listens in. 

While the new equipment, which 
comes from the A.T.&T., is said to 
make for versatility in reporters who 
can dictate a news story flawlessly 
over the telephone, it' is reported to 
put the average rewrite newspaper- 
man or. the familiar spot. Average 
steno, capable of handling a 'dicta- 
phone, can manipulate the metal tape 
and transcribe the story phoned in 
by the outside ^reporter. Tape is only 
about" an eighth of an inch wide: or 
practically the. same width as -the 
sound track of a film negative. Tech- 
nical, man must be on duty "at the 
instrument in the newspaper office 
at all times. 

Another invention being tested in. 
another, newspaper plant Is a system 
of teletype which permits the ''per- 
fect' reporter to sit at a machine 
similar to a-typewriter, write out his 
story and have it set in type, withv 
out any further human or mechani- 
cal handling. This machine, perfec- 
tion of which is said to be question- 
able, would do away with the use of 
linotype operators.. For practical 
purposes, however; this is dubiously 
regarded. 



French O.O.'lng N. Y. Shows 
Windsor French, drama critic and 
columnist of the, Cleveland Plain- 
Dealer, is in New York for .a one 1 
month look at the new shows. 

Went to Boston for the opening of 
'Red, Hot and Blue,' new Vinton 
Freedley musical (Oct. 7), and will 
concentrate on Broadway there 



after. 



7 



Sellers 



Best Sellers for the week ending Oct. 7, as reported by the 
... American News Co., Inc. 

, ' ''A ■ * ■ Fiction ; • - 

•Gone With the Wind' ($3.00). By Margaret Mitchell 

'Drums Along the Mohawk' ($2.50) ......By W. D. Edmonds 

'American Flaggs' ($2.00) By Kathleen Norris 

•The. Doctor' ($2.00) By Mary Roberts Rinehart 

'Whiteoak -Harvest' ($2.50) .By Mazo.d9.la. Rpche 

'No Hero This' ($2.50) ......By Warwick Deeping 

Non-Fiction 

'Live Alone and Like It' ($1.50). '..............,... By Madorie H^is 

•Around the World in 11 Years' ($2.00) • 

. By Patience, Richard, ft. John .'Abbe 
'Man the ' Unknown' ($3.50) ...................... By Alexis Carrell 

'V/ake Up and Live' ($1.75). . . .• .By. Dorothea Brande 

'An Amer'can Doctor's Odyssey' ($3.50) By Doctor Victor G. Heiser 
'Listen for a Lonesome Drum' ($3.00).... : By Carl Carmer 



Fiction and Films 



By WOLFE KAUFMAN ■ 

Miller On' Hollywood 

Max Miller, ' who went to' Holly- 
wood on the crest of his 'I Cover the 
Waterfront,' didn't make a very good 
job of it out there. He tells all in 
For the Sake of Shadows' (Dutton; 
$2.50). 

It isn't especially denunciatory, 
being -written in Miller's simple and 
effective! manner,, step by step. The 
stupidities of the system are shown 
up, -but no one blamed especially. 
Whether Miller won or lost is. left 
to the imagination. Liable to be of 
just' as much interest outside the 
trade as in it, but for different 
reasons. 



Newsmen v Write Play 

■■ Herbert- C. Lewis and J. Q: Riznik- 
have completed a new play, 'Love 
at 300.' Both' are on the' rewrite 
battery of- the '-NOT, Americanj-Lewis, 
the author of' ' last season's 'Naine 
Your Poison' in collaboration Avlth 
Louis -Weitzenkorn and Riznik,' re- 
cently' returned from Hollywood; the 
author of 'The Profession' and 'Paris 
BSJitipn.' ■• ■ 

■ Story has to do with love. in govr 
ernment housing.' project, tto'. '300. ; 



B. .W. Flelsher Serious : 

' B.. W. Fleisher, publisher of the 
Japan Advertiser, Tokio, leading 
English-language daily of Orient, 
back to Mayo Brothers' hospital; 
Rochester, Minn., in serious condi- 
tion from phlebitis, 

Was in Japan only five months on 
most recent trip, change for worse 
in condition forcing return. 



Foreign §cribes' Election 

Association of Foreign Press Cor- 
respondents reelected A, Bernard 
Moloney, of Reuter's, ' presideht. 
Kenneth Durant, of Tass,- and R. de 
Roussy de Sales, of the Paris Soir, 
were . elected vice-presidents. 

Alair^O.-Trower prReXiter'S is sec- 
retary-treasurer and, Feriiand Aubr 
erjonois of Havas is assistant sec- 
retary. ' . , 



Lurton M.E. of Lit'. Digest 

. Douglas . Lurton was appointed 
managing ' editor of The Literary 
Digest last week, following the-resig* 
nation of Morton Savell tiota. the 
ia^aff. .Latter wiU join up with mag 
today. ' 

* Wilfred Fuhk-is now edifoir. 



CHAXTER 

Dr. Gustav Eckstein back from 

Russia. 

EUery- Queen to write for Par- 
amount. ... 

■ tnbmas Wolfe back; in N. Y. from 
Europe. \ 

- Erich Maria Remarque has' fin- 
ished a new novel.' 

Nick Kenny, N, Y. Mirror's radio 
edy renewed for three more years. 
• Capfc - Billy Fawcett to the Coast 
this week after a N. Y, biz sojourn 

Harry Saltpeter, old World crick,: 
leaving N,'Y. for L. A: to join.scrlb- 
bers J at "Republic studio Octi- 12." "' •■ 
Frederick Hazlitt Brennan sold- bis 
newest story. 'Mrs. Pykeson Jolns the 
Fleet,' to Collier's. . 

J. ; P. McEvoy dropping novel 
called 'Shanghai Summer* • to do 
some' fall and winter scripts for Par. 

■ Time's new mag, titled Show Book, 
due Nov. 19. Firm is negotiating to 
buy Life; no deal consumated as yet,' 
both parties .state. 

Albert O. -Bassuk to edit the Hobby 
Riders Bulletin. He is editor of.- the 
Americad Gilbert' & Sullivan Quar- 
terly^ . • '•'"• 

,-Gordon Fawcett, son ol.W. H. Faw- 
cett, president of Fawcett Publica- 
tions, has joined Hollywood staff of 
mags. : • . 

George Worts, who authored 'The 
Phantom President,' has^sold his new 
serial, 'Dangerous Young Man,' to 
Cottier's; >• ' 

. ' Ev'erett Freeman,, oh Sam Gold- 
wyn's. writing staff in Holly wood, has 
sold 'Take It Away,' radio story, to 
Satevepost.. • ' 

Jim Tally is trying to sell- his 
novel, -'The Bruiser,' to the studids 
for pictures: Gene Fowler and -Jack 
Dempsey touted book. 

Geraldine Sartain, who was among 
those purged in the recent N. Y. 
World-Telly housecleaning, has gone 
oyer to King Features. 

Jerry Asher, formerly on the Hol- 
lywood staff of Silver Screen,' -and 
Screenland has joined .the Radio- 
studio publicity department. 

R. H.. Macy and Co. distributed 
10,000 copies of the first issue of New 
.York JWprnan. to a selected , list of 
customers in the metropolitan area. 

Charles. Flick has left the Lit. 
Digest to. go to the PhjladelpMa- 
Inquirer. • He was formerly ih the 
Berlin office of Universal Service^ 
and had an- opera produced' in 
Germany^ 

- 'Burton- Crane of the Japan Ad- 
vertiser (Tokyo) has brought back 
with him . a dozen Japanese chisels 
'for my American friends in. the 
show business/ says the newsman. 

+First time back" in nine year*. 



Spotlighting the Ladles 
Ishbel Ross, one pf .the best of. 
them, has collated a' gigantic book 
about lady; reporters, which; she titles 
Ladies of the Press' (Harpers;. $3.75). 
It was a tough assignment and Miss 
Ross carries it through with her. cus- 
tomary thoroughness; the number .of 
names, histories and' details, she has. 
dug up being almost staggering; . " 

If the boolTdoes.' engender a mone- 
tary feeling of. so-what, it is .just 
barely possible that some hick city 
editor will bump into it somewhere 
and decide- to give a gal a break. 
That would, of course, from the writ- 
er's viewpoint, make it okay all 
around. Because, as sheer reading 
,and entertainment, Miss Ross', idea 
and subject would have been better 
served in a magazine article, good 
as the book is. -Because a little of 
this sort of history, goes a long way. 



Intrigue In Orient]. 
James Warner -Bellah can get an 
amazing lot of speed and action into, 
his books, The Brass Gong Tree' 
(Appleton-Century; $2) hash't much 
of a story and isn't good .writing. But 
Bellah tells it sp i .w'ell as . to. have i the 
reader and his imagination on edge 

all the time. ' . 

; 'Story is' pne of ith'bs'e Far. Eastern 
affairs,- with newspapermen, beauti- 
ful -women and spies tripping over 
-each: other's corns - every couple of- 
minutes. : It probably -would, make 
an. okay film. 

'- Omnlbns of -Crime 

'• ' Mollie Merrick, ex-HoUywood col- 
umnist, takes her first stab at. fiction 
in a full length' novel entitled 'Upper 
Case* (Washburn;; $2V 'ahd'-shWM 
herself to; be a lass with a lot of 
promise.. It's, a rough, .and . tumble 
whpdunif; in the modern!, tradition 
and written) as a itaah ^might have 
pennedit' .'Quick'pace, keenahaiysis 
ahd J good 'characterization help. . A- 
routine and stereotyped basic story 
doesn't get in the way. Okay for 
sound. 

. Nancy Clemens, feature writer .of, 
the Kansas City Star,- -collabs with 
Vance Randolph in the writing, of 
'Campr'lMteeting Murders*. '( Vanguard j 
$2). It is a rather eerie yarn set in 
the Qzarks. and has. a. lot. of good 
writing, much above the general cut 
for whodunits. But a lot of it, too, 
is drivel.. Nice sense of humor -'and 
some pleasant characters keep it go 
ing: smoothly. " Not for 'films.- 

One of the eeriest books in a long 
time is The Growing Hen,' by Regi- 
nald Davis (Crime Club'; $2). : 'It is 
,tpo British ih setting, pace and out- 
look for /much of a chance on this 
side. Well done, for what- it is, but 
-a-step backwards; especially since.it 
goes in ior use of secret channels 
and such: Not for films:" - — ■ - - 
'•Death Angel,' by Clyde B. Clason 
(Crime Club; $2), is tmong the top 
books of its kind, ' Clason has. nice 
style, movement -and color. -His de- 
tective's a peach. Story- makes good 
reading and, though" the solution's a 
bit too obvious, it holds attention.* 
Not for films. 



By EPES Wv SARGENT 

Good; 2 N.S.G. 

Of three .Greenberg books for 
October release, all at . $2, The Cap- 
tain of the Jehovah-' is outstanding. 
It's entirely different from the. usual 
output, of this firm. Written by 
H. C. Drake, who did 'Cursed Be 
the Treasure,' if s raw and cruel, but 
grippingly. told, and something to 
command attention. The Jehovah is 
a slaver, commanded by. a hard 
bitten navigator, who rides a motley 
crew.- Not a picture, but it's dis- 
tinctly something to be read: ' 

The usual cow story is 'Comrades 
of the Colt,* built by John Keith 
Bassett on the familiar theme of the 
criminal band who lord it over the 
ranchers. Smoothly written, well 
handled as to complication, _and yet, 
somehow, it does not manage to 
sfeam -up the imagination to the 
proper point. No picture. 

Third of the trio is 'I'll Walk to the 
Mountain,' by Jean . Ford. New 
York girl hitch hikes to the moun- 
tains- of- Tennessee, -where an acci- 
dent lands her. in .a mountain home. 
She... is- taken .into. .theft: .hearts . and 
marries a "mountaineer, for which 
she probably WSs' bitterly regretful 
after -the "story ends. Incident is un- 
believable and , the style does noth- 
ing to aid its weakness. Too sappy 
for a picture. 



■Tex' Btckard 

Sponsored by Mrs. Tex Rickard; 
though the style is so- fluent as to 
suggest expert aid, 'Everything 
Happened to Him* (Stokes; $2.50) is 
the' running story of the fight pro- 
moter from his boyhood in Texas to 
the end of his meteoric career. 

Smoothly told, without bverstress 
on his accomplishments, it forms an 
admirable biography of sports' most 
colorful promoter.' Easy to, read 
and, what's more important, easy to 
believe, • Worthwhile to those who 
are interested in sports, and to many 
others. • • • 



Talky 

Another of those verbose, intro- 
spective first-person stories is 'Sow 
.% e J '''Vnia,>'-'''(<}reen ' Circle " $2.50'(, 
by Theodore Freedehburgh. ■ It's 
a popular v pattern,- - particularly 
■with English authors, - but it ;does 
not always' make for good story- tell- 
ing. ^ It doesn't in this instance. - 

Such interest as the tale excites is 
the locale' on.' the_ island of Corsica, 
with an inside slant on a vendetta 
as a .side issue. Action is generally 
sluggish and-. the hero -is a. soused 
American who does not command 
much interest. " : ' " ' 



' SloV Start ' 
■ According to the jacket, Janice 
Pollack has. had a number of short 
stories printed, but 'Stepmother,' 
(Speller; $2), is her first novel. . ItV 
not ayery. good starter. ^The style is 
ragged and unexciting and the ef- 
fort to. jazz it iip. is. crude rather 
than heating. ' . 

It's the story of a young Jewish 
boy who marries a Gentile girl to 
not very good results. /She:- leaves 
him arid he. marries another., The de- 
velopments may be true to life, but 
they are not plausible, nor are they 
\ cunningly contrived. The climax is 
impossibly wild. Probably will have 
a run in the libraries, but that's a'llT 

. Standard Pattern 

• 'Play on Your "Harp" (Farrar & 
RJInehart;.$2) .is by. Travis Ingham, 
his 'secdhd published novel.' It's just 
a shade '•* passe, dealing with.* the 
familiar setup of the" poor but pa- 
tient wife of a rich playboy and how 
she regenerates him. 

• It was a toor^pppular theme a few 
years ago to be "crisply fresh now, 
but it is well written and can be 
read with fair, interest. Mild picture 
possibilities. * 



Wednesday, October, 7, 1936 



CO NCERT 



VARIETY 



59 



Strippers and LO' Ardiur in Salmaggfs 
ma^mmm for Three Nights 




By ROBERT BASAL 

Weekend opera under Alfredo Sal- 
maggi resumed Friday. (2) at the 
Hippodrome, New York; with 'Aida' 
introducing a trio of new voices, a 
duo of silver shellaeked strippers in 
Act 2, and Jack Johnson, ex-heavy - 
weight 'champ, as- ah Ethiopian slave. 
Three nights grossed $10,200. 

Johnson wore a leopard skin, some 
horns' and shackles. He didn't sing, 
but . got a big enough , hand to step 
forward by himself for' solo bows. 
Leading divas and tenors came next. 

Maru Castagna, Vittorio Fullin and 
Ettore Nava are the . newcomers to 
Salmaggi's company who did a 
quickie on debuting. They .sang 
again Sunday night (4) in 'Carmen.' 

Salmaggi's productions are hitting 
a new high for, fancy trimmings this 
season... 'Aida' especially, was a 
honey :fo;r circusy flairs^ 

An octet of Harlem six-footers was 
drafted for the public square scene, 
topped by the Johnson entry. -Finale 
had . two silver girls , with long tinsel 
tresses, . brought in as .captured loot. 
House /was silent at first, and. then 
applauded;- Three-night stand did 
.near capacity.: • 

Impresario is expanding his policy, 
starting this week. A Wagnerian cycle 
bows in as Sunday matinee fare, the 
first one. to be 'Tannhaeuser/ It will 
continue until the ring is completed. 



DETROIT JOB OPEN 

Frlt< Seiner Deemed Favored Candi- 
date for Baton 



Detroit, Oct. 6. 
Town if in a dither over whbH 
succeed the Ictc Ossip Gabrilowitsch 
as conductor of the Detroit Sym- 
phony ork s Many are, lining up be- 
hind Fritz Reinerj who's' appeared 
here often and recently batoned ork 
for Ford's Sunday eye concert over 
CBS. 

Whether Symph society will try to 
sign him, won't be settled for some- 
time, however, because, present sea- 
son is already set with plenty of 
guest directors who were lined up 
last year when it appeared Gabrilo- 
witsch wouldn't be able to resume 
rostrum this season due to illness. 

Victor Kolar, assistant to Gabrilo- 
witsch for several years and leader 
of symph during his two years' ill- 
ness, appears . at present out of the 
conductor picture. 



(Continued from page 1) 



PORT;, ORE., PIC HOUSE 
BOOKS 1-NITE CONCERTS 



St. Louis Remodels Aud. 
From Stokowski Plans 

St Louis, Oct. 6. 

Construction of a new stage set- 
ting in opera house of Municipal 
auditorium, designed by Leopold 
Stokowski, conductor of Philadel- 
phia Philharmonic . Orchestra, to 
eliminate acoustical defects, will be 
completed by Oct. 30 when St Louis 
Symphony Orchestra begins season* 
During past two years while local 
symphony has used opera' house, 
many • complaints were made that 
sound failed to rebound from old 
canvas covered' set but passed 
■ through' side walls and ceiling. 

Stokowski was invited here last 
May to -make recommendatkvs and 
after sound tests advised construc- 
tion- of new stage set which will be 
on order, of "half -opened shell and 
patterned after- those used in. Phil- 
adelphia, Boston and New York, 

City is footing the bill of $5,000, 
from fund earmarked for completion 
of auditorium building. 

Sir Hubert Leads Off 



Detroit Oct 6. 

Sir Hubert Wilkins, British polar 
explorer, .will open annual. World 
Adventure Series in Detroit Art 
Institute here Oct 11. 

Others include: Capt. Irving John- 
son, Oct 18; Branson De- Cou, Oct 
25; David Irwin, Nov. 1; Dr. Luther 
Gable, Nov. 8; Arthur C. Pillsbury, 
Nov, 15; -.Capt Albert W. Stevens, 
motion pic lecture, Nov. 22; Herbert 
.Thompson Strong, .Nov. 29; Deane H. 
Dickasoh, Dec. 6; and Julien Bryan, 
Dec. 13. • '.-■■ 

For the fourth' consecutive season, 
the Clare Tree Major's Children's 
Theatr~ r'i N. Y. will give a series 
of plays under auspices of Detroit 
Civic Opera- Society at Orchestral 
HalL Opening production, Oct * 20, 
will be 'Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage 
Patch.' 



Heidelberg Winter Plans 

Berlin, Oct 6. 

Program of the Heidelberg winter 
concerts for '36-37: is to .include 23 
musical performances. There will be 
seven symphony concerts directed by 
general music .director Kurt Over- 
hbff,-, and in addition a special con- 
cert devoted to Liszt and the two 
Wagner's, same under the patronage 
of Frau Winifred Wagner. 

There will also be given seven 
chamber music concerts, and the sea- 
son will be concluded by a Mozart 
Festival under the direction of Kurt 
Overhoff , 



Whiteman Dec. 1 

Date for Paul • Whiteman's New 
York concert has been set for Dec. 
*• Exact spot is not picked as yet 
though, it may be Carnegie Hall. • 

It follows Whiteman's Philadel- 
phia appearance) with the Philly 
symphony. 



Portland, Ore., Oct 6. 
Bill McCurdy has tied up with the 
Evergreen Paramount, for concert 
series starting next month. One 
night stands of noted names such as 
Flagstad, Rachmaninoff, Tibbett and 
Martini are spotted throughout the 
season, Admish is $2 top. 

For these concert bookings Ever- 
green's 3,000-seat Paramount will 

suspend its regular pic policy. The 
house figures that there is prestige 
besides profit in an occasional con- 
cert booking, and that the Idea won't 
interfere with pic grosses that must 
be made in six days instead of se,ven. 

Bill -McCurdy is Northwest agent 
for M.D. 'Doc* Howe's L. A; booking 
office. He also represents Fortune 
Gallo, - of the San -Carlo Grand 
Opera. Last season this • territory 
grossed- around. $70,009 for three 
weeks of grand opera. Concert stuff 
also gets a .great play In these parts. 



Concerts 



. Berlin, Sept. 2. 

Yosie Fujiwara is giving a Bee- 
thoven evening. Dusolina Giahnirii is 
restricted to 6nly one recital at the 
Philharmonic Hall. Wiener Saenger- 
knaben ('Viennese Singing Boys') 
are slated for a concert. Koczalski 
is bri. the Meistersaal list with a 
Chopin cycle. Claudio Arrau is giv- 
ing two recitals at the Bachsaal. 
Frederic Lamond will do four Bee- 
thoven evenings. 

An Anglo-Hungarian Music Festi- 
val is set at Wiesbaden, with the first 
concert devoted only to Hungarian 
works, directed by Hans Swarowsky. 
Second concert exclusively English 
works, will be conducted by Carl 
Schuricht 

Ford Sunday Soloists 

Detroit, Oct. 6. 

Soloists slated for the Ford Sunday 
Evening concerts over CBS, originat- 
ing in Masonic Temple here, will in- 
clude the following during the next 
two months: 

Oct 11, Kirsten Flagstad, soprano; 
Oct 18. Gladys Swarthout; Oct. 25, 
Richard Bbrielli, baritone;. Nov. 1, 
Harold Bauer, pianist; Nov., 8, Lily 
Pons; Nov. 15, Jose Iturbi, pianist; 
Npv. 22, Richard Crooks, tenor, and 
Nov. 29, Ezio Pinza, basso. 

Ballet Caravan in N. Y. 

Ballet Caravan (12) hits New York 
Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at Kaufman audi- 
torium. Date is current with run of 
DeBasil Russian Ballet (125) at the 
Metropolitan Opera* 

Hawkins', off ice is keeping the U.S. 
troupe out through Oct and Nov. 



PHULY'S FEMME FIDDLER 

Philadelphia, Oct. 6. 

First woman violinist in history of 
organization has been signed by 
Philadelphia Orchestra. 

She Is Lois zu Pulitz, wife of Syl- 
van Levin, pianist, composer and 
teacher at Curtis Institute of Music 



are the biggest draws when the 
booking is okayed, .but . unless the 
girl has her share of looks -and per- 
sonality, the dates -are usually tur- 
keys. 

Burger has had option on the 
services of late Representative Zion- 
check of Washington, Alabama Pitts; 
one-time ball-playing : resident . of 
Sing Sing; Mrs. Legs Diamond, the 
Hauptmann jury, Dillinger's dad, 
Hilda Ferguson, Jessie Cpstello, 
■Peggy Rich and Jack de. Ruyter, and 
sundry other such newspaper per- 
sonalities. Bookings on nearly all of 
them were cancelled uncermonipus- 
ly when theatre managements were 
threatened with license revocation. 

Sarah Churchill, daughter of the 
former prime minister, Winston 
Churchill, who became involved in a 
transatlantic romance _with Vic Oli- 
ver, . musician, has. since been play- 
ing vaude. Public interest has already 
petered, says Burger. Same goes for 
proposed booking of star baseball- 
ers. They might, click, says booker, 
but even if they do what is there 
left to play? 

Despite all the shortcomings, 
headaches, and possible losses to be 
sustained, if a glamorous gal. should 
suddenly decide to shoot her es- 
poused and later beat the rap, 
Burger says he would have little 
hesitancy in once again taking the 
chance. Reason advanced is likened 
unto gambling, which, once tried, is 
never denied- '. 



Piza Moves Site 



S. E. Piza, director . of matinee 
musicales, shifts his hotel series from 
the Plaza to Ambassador, in N. Y., 
this year. Opener is James Melton 
on Nov. 19 with series bopked 
through Jan. 21, when Maria Jeritza 
closes* 

In between will be heard Harold 
Bauer, Ruggiero, Ricci, Rosa Ten- 
toni, Gaspar Casadp, Bidu Sayao, Mil- 
dred Dilling and Marceile Hubert. 

Melton arrived back from the 
Coast Monday (5). 

Albany District . Dates 

Albany, Oct. 6. 

Concert season opens here Oct 29, 
with John Charles Thomas ' spon- 
sored by Skidmore College, Saratoga 
Spring's. Laurence Tibbett is to Ap- 
pear in Schenectady the following 
night, Oct 30. , 

Other bookings in section are: Nov. 
19,' Marianne Kneisel String Quartet 
Saratoga Springs; Dec. .3, Lauritz 
Melchoir, C -r^cellors Hall, Albany; 
National Symphony Orchestra, Wash- 
ington, ' D, (X; , Hans Kindler, con- 
ductor, opens Troy season; Dec. ,7, 
Violet Durkee Ruffalo, Saratoga 
Springs; Dec. 9, Rosa Tetoni, witrrj-^.. 
Mendelssohn Club, Albany; Jan.. 15, 
Earl Spicer with Monday Musical 
Club, chorus, Albany; Jani 18,, Grace 
Leslie, Saratoga Springs; Jan. '29, 
Ruggefio Rici, Albany; Feb'.' -10, 
Cleveland Orchestra, Albany. 



John McCormack, Who Paid Off the 
Naif Mortgage 20 Yrs. Ago, Returns 



FRISCO'S 'JUNIOR' SYMPH 



Promotion Into Big Orchestra Held 
Ont as Seward 



San Francisco, Oct. 6. 

Vacancies in the San' Francisco 
Symphony. Orchestra may be filled 
in the. future from the membership 
of the new Junior Symphony of San 
Francisco, which is to be organized 
with Willem Van den Burg, assistant 
conductor of the senior orchestra, as 
conductor. 

Applications are now being re- 
ceived for membership in the Junior 
Symphony, which has the full en- 
dorsement of the San Francisco 
Symphony. 



PLATFORM AND PODIUM 
DATES IN MICHIGAN 



Detroit Oct. 6. 
Fifty-eighth annual Choral Union 
concert series will open Oct. 19 in 
Hill Aude, Ann Arbor, with Kirsten 
Flagstad as -soloist 

With Frederick Stock directing, 
the Chicago Symphony, will appear 
Nov. 2 with the entire personnel of 
100 players.' The Moscow Cathedral 
Choir of 24 voices,' under Nicholas 
Afonsky, is due Nov. 16. Others in- 
clude Jascha Heifetz, violinist Nov* 
30; the Boston Symph, with Serge 
Koussevitzky conducting, on Dec, 
10; Josef Hoffman, pianist Dec. 14; 
and Bernardino Molinafi as guest 
conductor of the Detroit Symph, 
Jan. 15. ' . 

The fourth annual Temple Forum 
series will begin Nov. 17 in Temple 
Beth El, with 'Stuart Chase, writer 
and economist as speaker. Others to 
appear ■ are Senator Gerald P. Nye' 
■and Dr. Clark N. Eichelberger, pres- 
ident of the League of Nations Asso-. 
ciation of , America, in a . debate on 
war neutrality; Norman Thomas; Sir 
Wilmott Lewis, British statesman; 
Dr. John Ersklne; Will Irwin, Dr. 
Stanley Rypins, N. Y. educator; 
Prince -and Princess Loewenstehi of 
Bulgaria, ^n. 'Ravages of Fascism'; 
Dr. Stanley High, adviser to .Presi- 
•dent Roosevelt; Herbert Agar, au? 
thor, and Lewis Corey, , author. 



San Carlo's Route 



. San . Carlo opera dates after. 
Toronto,. Sept 24^-Oct 3 are Chi, 5- 
28; Milwaukee, 27-Nov. 1; Minneapo- 
lis,! 2, 3, .4; St Paul, 5-7; Sioux City, 
»; Sioux Falls,- 10; Omaha, 11-14; 
Davenport, 10-17; Indianapolis, 18-19; 
Cleveland, 20-21; Detroit 22-29; Pitts- 
burgh, 30-Dec. 1 and Utica, 2. . 

Western • dates. / follow after the 
holidays. . , 



Newsless News Conferences at Met 



Music Reporters Look for Stories About 
Opera Outside the Organization 



FRITZ KREISLER'S GUESTER 



1st Appearance With Symphony in 
25 Years? 



Chicago, Oct. 0. 

For the first time in nearly 25 
years . Fritz Kreisler will play this 
season with the Chicago Symphony 
Orchestra. _ 

Kreisler's refusal to play dates 
with big orchestras is that he is too 
potent an attraction as a recital art- 
ist' to justify his signaturing as 
guester with orchestra. 

Jason Waters' Gesture 



Chicago, Oct 6. 
Jason F. Waters, president of Chi- 
cago City Opera, is reported ready 
to hand over personally the sum of 
$25,000 toward the 1936-1937 guaran- 
tee fund of the opera for its six- 
week^ season. Guarantee fund of 
$100,000 and a reserve of $100,000 
are the objectives of Waters' cam- 
paign. 

Waters believes that the call on 
guarantors will be extremely light 
-this year due to the healthy response 
'on subscriptions already. 



Nashville, Oct 6. • 
Mrs. L. C. Naff, manager of Ryman 
Auditorium, will celebrate an anni- 
versary next, week when she pre* 
sents John McCormack in concert 

In 1916, when Mrs. Naff first took 
over the Auditorium as her own 
venture, she put a second mortgage 
on her home to. raise a guarantee 
for McCormack. It was the tenor's 
first visit to Nashville. Every seat 
in the auditorium was sold before 
the sale opened. On the night of 
the concert 'all standing room was 
taken -and 300 seats were sold on 
the stage. Mrs. Naff made the guar- 
antee, and a lot more,- paid off the 
mortgage and put a nice sum in the" 
bank. ' 

. With, that start, Mrs. Naff becam'e. 
the most successful manager in the 
South and one of . the biggest out-' 
side New York. In the rambling bid 
structure' which once housed Tevival 
meetings and which today, is still 
without permanent proscenium; she 
has presented all the great stars and 
music attractions and most of the 
shows available to the road.. No 
less daring than her McCormack ex- 
perience for a town the size of Nash- 
ville was her booking of Caruso and 
Galli-Curci on consecutive^ nights.' 
Both drew tremendous business.' 

Monday night;;<12), .20 years after 
her managerial'' debut, . Mrs. Naff 
opens her season with-- McCormack. 
Cards with .- the 'first announcement 
of the concert .tead: 'There is no 
mortgage on the home but Mrs. L. 
C. Naff presents the world's great- 
est lyric tenor? Since 1916 she;, has 
brought McCormack to Nashville 
four timies, ' :» ' . 

Bookings thus-far for the Ryman 
this season are, in addition to McCor- 
mack: 'The Great Waltz,' Nov. 19; 
'Scandals,' Dee. 15; Tollies,' Jan, 18; 
'Boy Meets Girl/ March . 4; Ballet 
Russe, March 8. . Date is ballet's . 
second at Auditorium, having stacked, 
up more than . $3,000 in one) night 
there last season. - 



CAUJ-CORCFSltETURN 
BWNGSJJP BBPUTE 

Chicago, Oct. 6. 

Paul Longohe and staff of Chicago 
City Opera understood not partlcu- 
larly pleased with wish of Amelta 
Galli-Curci to make her re-entry into 
opera on Nov. 18 with' the 'role of- 
Mimi in Xa .Bpheme/ 

Management prefers Gjlda in 
'Rigoletto' er Violetta in 'La Travi* . 
ata' or even Lucia,.figaring that these , 
roles -are more suited to sopranos , of 
her .-type. '.. , 



Edward. Johnson held first press 
conference of the season at the 
Metropolitan Opera, New York, Oct. 
1. Music brigade turns out en masse 
for these events but its mostly to 
hear things they already know. 

Met gets a lot of publicity prima- 
rily because it's the Met. Otherwise 
the policy of tight-lipped manage- 
ment does not favor the newspaper 
boys. News of the Met may be ob- 
tained almost -anywhere but at the 
Met itself. 

Music reporters note this perhaps 
more keenly than before, following 
their summer experiences with Jones 
Beach light opera. Management in 
that case made life pleasant for the 
working press. 

Newcomers verified formally as 
joining the Met . this year follow; 
Franca Somigli, Kerstln Thorburg, 
Gertrud RucngeT, Gina Cigna, Vina 
Bovy, Bidu Sayao, Irene Jessner, 
Stella Andreva, Karl Laufkotter, 
John Brownlcc, Maurice de Abrav- 
anel and Herbert Graf. 

Also the following who appeared 
in the spring season and are held for 
the winter run: Muriel Dickson, Na- 
talie Bodanya, -Anna Kaskas, Lucielle 
Browning, Sydney Rayner, Arthur 
Carron, Nicholas Massue, George 
Rasely, Wilfred Engleman, Norman 
Cordon and John Gurney. 



St. Pad's Opera Season 

Chicago, Oct 6. 

Phil Fein of the Chicago Civic 
Opera, goes to St Paul next month to 
direct that clty?s municipal .opera, 
'season:' "Will do three operas ayear, 
with those picked for this season -be- 
ing 'La Boheme,' 'II Trovatore* and 
'Manon.' ' 

First will' open early in December; 
After the opera, rehearsals start im- 
mediately on the second which will 
be done some time in January, Same 
procedure for the third will be slated 
for February or March. 



Ballet Espagnol Due 

The Ballet Espagnol sails from 
France 4*>d*y < Wednesday) to open 
in Havana, 'and thence to the U. S. 

Company includes Juan Martinez, 
Soledad, Juanitp, Carmelita, Anto- 
nita, Isabella, Rosarita, Castillana, 
Amya, Morales, BobadlUa, Cortijo, 
Sarasina, Marqulta, Caiitanagro Se* 
villana, Vizcaino and Zanoub. 



MET'S PHULt HATES 

Philadelphia, Oct, 6. 
Metropolitan Opera Company's 
local season will include six dates: 
Dec. 22, Jan. 5, Jan. 26, Feb. 16, 
March 0, March 23, all Tuesday 
nights. 

Productions will be selected •from 
regular Met repertoire. Local «g» 
pearances will be in- Academy -tif 
Music , ■ " .... . 



60 



VARIETY 



TIMES SQUARE 



Wednesday, October 7, 1936 



Broadway 



' Phil DeAngelus back from Canada. 
Charles Bochert now p.a, for 'New 
Faces.' 

Cab Calloway get for a short at 
Warners. 

Roller skating 'derby' at Hipp went 
Into red for 12 G's. 

Paramount film deal for Fred 
Waring and his orchestra is up again. 
' J. Tim Brymn, music arranger 
and" voice coach, is very much alive. 

Jack Manning -gives a good imita- 
tion of D. W. Griffith as an air en- 
tertainer. 

'Slug' was password at newspaper- 
men's gatherings in evenings during 
world's series. 

Bob Woolsey went back to the 
.Coast after seeing a couple World 
Series games. . 

Reorganized Friars Club holds its 
election of officers and first general 
meeting Oct. J5: ■ • 
> Harry- Richman is dickering with 
Cosmopolitan Mag. for. his exclusive 
on the. flight story. 

Leo Pillot out . ahead of . Russell 
.Peterson's 'Living. Models' unit for 
Fanchon & Marco. 

Beverly Kelley in press depart- 
ment for. 'White . Horse Inn,' with 
BUI Fields in charge. . 

Katharine Hepburn rates three 
color photos in /current camera-shot 
exhibit in Radio City. 

World Series brought about 75,000 
out-of -towhers to "New York for one 
or more days.. Hotels are packed. 

John . 'Anderson, : the . Journal's 
drama critic, had growth, removed 
from ear. Operation took two hours. 

. Sol De Vrles will be honor jguest. 
at 47th annual dinner of Treasurers 
Club- at' Edison hotel Saturday (10). 

Tom Devane. attached to .the RKO 
publicity at . the . studio, transferred 
•to the home office .publicity depart- 
ment 

■ Ray Perkins sailed for a month in 
Paris and London this week. Just 
concluded 20 weeks at the Cleveland 
Exdo. ■'. 

Irving Mills doing it the hard way, 
motoring to the. Coast .via- New Or- 
leans and Texas.:; Will.be gone six 
weeksi * .- - ' r » . * , a - 

Charlotte. Buchwald, WMCA in- 
terviewer; spirit a couple of days at 
\tne . .Republican S,tate convention as 

• delegate. - ** »-'••.• • 

;.• • Jasper_D. Rapoport, Par's manager 
in j©uba, who has "been honeymoon- 
ing in New York, leaves for Havana 
tomorrow (Thurs.). . 

.Lou- Guimond hit another - birth- 
day-Sunday .(4) and celebrated by 
di SKU g IP^Jl ^"turkey dinner. 

.r-'WlUard • Alexander,' new 'Music 
Gorp;of America band exec, was for«. 
merly .quite a maestro on his own 
before takmg to booking bands,. ■ 

- The Gabe Hausmanns, prominent 
nv New Orleans, are in New York 
celebrating their 25th anniversary by 
seeing the series; amohg. other things'. 
to?. 1 ! 8 tosguP between Aresi at the 
Rainbow Room and Fred at the 
ff* Caslnpy, for masculine -pul-' 
cnritude among the town's headwait 
'.ers. ■ ■ 

„ Billy Jackson's boy; Bobby, having 
■ reached, the ripe, old ago of 13. cele- 
» u& h & ba f mltzvah at Crown 
Heights Temple, Brooklyn, Sunday 

- Oscar Wilder McKennee, ad and 
promotion chief, at the Essex House, 
aoes; hid exploitation : via the racon- 
teuririg form. Illustrates his points 

.. via anecdota. • v 
Harry Cohn and. Eddie Buzzell 
came in, and going' back to the Coast 
together after a flash at the series. 
Harold Rodher (WB) also to the 
Cottst, via plane. 

New Jane Gray studios especially 
Wired now for radio purposes. Trend 
is .toward microphone rehearsals for 
ether chores, aa well as the usual 
dance and orchestra rehearsal space 

• James; P Dawson, prez, of the 
N, Y. Baseball Writers Ass'n, most 
popular man around press head- 
Quarters during World Series. Set- 
ups were at the New Yorker ahd 
the Commodore. » r u 

Cornel Wilde, stage j.uve and run- 
ner tip-in. the Olympics fencing team, 
to participate in a sword tournament 
at Bamberger's dept. store, Newark, 
N-. J, Oct. 10. Press stuntr . 




Paris 



Chez Suzy Solidor open again. 
Cecile Sorel back from Poland. 
Al Martin and Edith at the Em- 
pire. 

La Villa, Montparnasse nightie, re- 
opening. 

'Life of Louis Pasteur' (WB) at 
the Apollo. 

Isa Mirande in from Rome for a 
five-day visit. 

Molly Picon billed on the next 
A. B. C. show. 

Dolly Haas radioing over Paris 
P. T. T. station. 

Germaine Sablon opening at the 
Mone Cristo, nightie. 

Andre Ie Bret appointed cinema 
critic for the Petit Parisien. ■■. 

Yves Mirande recovered from an. 
automobile accident and back at 
work. . 

Jan Kiepura: back from Warsaw 
and .denying rumors he will .enter, 
politics. ' 

. Yves Bizos of the Alhambra cre- 
ating a new independent agency of 
his own. 

Danielle Darrieux signing to make 
three films in Hollywood; starting in 
January. • ' 

Mona Goya off to London to make 
two films under direction of Ted 
Edwards. 

Jean' Zay, Minister of - National 
Education, back from Vienna theatre' 
congress. ' 

Theatre. Pigalle reopening at end 
of month with 'Saint Alphonse' by 
Henri Falk. - 

< Delia and Billy Mack going back 
into - the -revamped Alcazar revue 
starring Sorel. " ' 

' Louis Douglas going into Varna's 
new Casino de Paris revue 'Tout 
Paris Chante.' 

Sarah Goldstein preparing a song 
recital which she will- shortly give 
at the Salle Chopin. . 

< Henri' Varna planning to take, an 
acting part in the Marseillaise Re- 
vue he is planning for 'the Alcazar; 
', .Jo Bouillon's orchestra making a 
tour ' Of southern France and North- 
ern Africa; opening in Marseilles 
Oct. 14.. 

Edmond Labbe, commissioner-gen- 
eral for the 1937 expo, returned from 
Poland, where he was ballyhooing 
the big show. 

. Serge Lifa'r narrowly escaped a 
Bad accident when airplane in which 
he. returned from Milan caught fire 
on landing: at Nice. 

Before appearing here, 'Tresors de 
Pierre,', a short on Paris 'churches 
produced ,by Rene Lucot, will be 
shown on the Normandie ehroute* to 
New York. 

, Curtie Melnitz receiving gold 
medal award of Comite International 
pour la Diffusion Artistique et Lit- 
teraire par le Cinematographic on 
behalf of David O. Selznick, 

. .Opera officials looking for a place 
tq commence the fall season as the 
opera house won't be ready and the 
Theatre Sarah Bernhardt, where 
summer operas are given* ' won't be 
free; • . ■ 



By Bea Drew 

" -Tiny Day left the Atlas Garden. 
' Kelley's Ritz reopened with entire 
new show.- ■- 
■■. Mr. and Mrs. Gene Buck were vis 
itors.here. •■ 
: El Rahcho had a Casino night. All 
for charity.. 

, . Beer gardens kicking because govt 
wants more taxes, 

... Oscar Moreno and Blanca Cuban 
d&ncers at. the El Rancho for one 
week. 

♦Mildred Stericel, new singer, just 
arrived from Hollywood for the 'El 
Rancho.' " ;•<•-■ • 

Mazie . Kempt left here for New 
York and Providence, R. I. Expects 
a radio job. 

Sailors from the British ship Ajax 
gave a vaudeville show at the Army 
Yin Cristobal. ■ 

tNew show of 10 people arriving 
far the Atlantic on the next boat 
from New York. " 

-Rene Mlsteli, Hollywood fashion 
designer, put on a fashion parade 
ofhj* models with local girls. 
Tnfaddie Lewis will be the first 
"m fighter to- appear In tHe 
. rktg in over four years. He 
Lao Douglas. 




Sydney 

By Eric Gorrlck 



Jim Thornley, Par, returns". 
^Stuart F. Doyle home; Charles 
Munro greets him. 

Joe Joel, Columbia, s off on an 
American trip in December. 
• Workjs progressing rapidly on 
'Rangle River' for Col-National. 

•National's 'The Flying Doctor' has 
been, doing great biz in Queensland. 

Sir Ben Tuller returns from Mel- 
bourne this week after another one 
of his quick o.o. tours. 

Johnny Glsss now the right hand 
man to. Charles Munro. Graduated 
from the ranks of publicity men. 

Dance spots are readying to close 
now that the winter season has end- 
ed. It has been a pretty fair sea- 
son. . 

Local producers are rushing proc- 
essing or their pix to get a break 
into the Sydney field as quickly as 
possible. . 

Herbie Hayward getting out great 
exploitation for 'The Flying Doctor* 
(Nat) and 'Uncivilized' (Chauvel). 
Both locals. 

Success of 'San Francisco' (MG) 
here has even amazed the Metro offi- 
cials. Each week the take has 
reached ?ecord figures: 

Columbia has brought several of 
its inter-State men to Sydney to 
watch the production of 'Rangle 
River* at National studios. 
^Williamsoif=Tait premiered 'Yes, 
Madam in Sydney and appears to 
have a hit. 'The Merry Widow' is in 
revival in Melbourne for same firm. 

George Barnes, Tivoli Theatres, 
has been kept busy lately in taking 
care of acts sent to Australia by 
Frank Neil. Every boat brings a 
new batch of vaude performers. 

Dan Carroll progressing nicely 
after a major operation. Carroll, be- 
sides taking care of big pic interests, 
is chairman, of the Film Board of 
Trade. 

Frank Marden has had charge of 
Greater Union affairs during "the "ab- 
sence of Stuart F. Doyle abroad. 



Marden will now devote the major 
portion of his time.to station 2 UW. 

Americans in Australia include 
Victor Jory, Edward Bowen,. Clar- 
ence Badger, Maxie Rosenbloom, 
George Simpson, Sammy Lewis, 
Patti. Moore, Mike Lustig, Jack Gol- 
die, Alexander Santos, and Edmond 
Seward. 

'Pearl Lust' being produced by 
Apex Films under direction of A. R. 
Harwood at the Cinesound Victoria 
studio. Harwood is an indie pro- 
ducer and has the studio on lease. 
Fay Revil and Jack Bowden, locals, 
are featured. 



Berlin 



Con Colleano to the Ufa, Ham- 
burg. 

Melody, new nitery, open on 
Nuremberg Platz. 

Pierre Corneille's *Cid' current at 
the Nollendorf Platz. 

William Randolph Hearst in from 
N. Y.' On. his 20th visit. 

; Seven Aus Tokay from the Scala 
to the Mogador, Paris. 

Inter-Continental concert relayed 
from -N. Y. by NBC and CBS. 

'The Forbidden Song,' tentative 
title of a new Jan Kiepura film. 
- Three - Cossacks booked for the 
Scala Crazy Show starting Oct. 16. 

Hani Onuki. in from Brussels for 
two vaude dates, Leipzig and Dres- 
den. 

. Peter N. Brinch. general manager 
of .the local 20th-Fox office is leav- 
ing the post. • • - 

King Vidor's 'Our Daily Bread' 
(UA) in its 7th week on first-run at 
the Astor Kurfuerstendamm. 
■ Dog of Baskerville,' new Anny 
Ondra-Lamac film (Bavaria), -now in 
the making at Neubabelsberg. 

Hans Albers =making up his mind 
to accept English screen bookings 
after he is through with UFA. 

Dr. Ayi Tendiilaf off to India for 
preparations of two" .hew Richard 
Eichberg films (Tobis-Europa). . 
• Lizzie ' MaUdriek" invited to stage 
her dance play 'Barberina' at the 
Paris WorloVs Exposition in 1937. 

Leonhardt Schmidt, newlv discov- 
ered 'lyric tenor from the Bavaria" 
mountains, formerly a woodcutter. 

A 20% jump in- cinema b.o. re- 
ceipts during the second quarter, 
compared to the same period in '35. 

Tango, waltz and foxtrot to . re- 
main the principal items in the new 
season here, with military march 
tabooed. 

Gerhardt Hauptmann attending his 
drama "The Rats" at the Rose the- 
atre on occasion of the latter's 30th 
anniversary. 

iv^S^^x Peer Gynt.9 a revival at 
the Theatre of the Peoples, adapted 
by Dietrich Eckart, staged by Walter 
Bruegmann. 

. Ether plugs for films now central- 
ized and dependent of nature and 
grade, with the. cultur-politic pics, 
getting preference. 

Jushny's 'Blue Bird,' Russian cab- 
aret, after a month at the Kabaret 
der Komiker, to Amsterdam to set- 
tle-down in its own house. 

Dr. Eugen Lanske over from Vi- 
enna on behalf of Austrian govern- 
ment to foster closer relations in 
Austro-German film circles. 

Der Artist, Germany's oldest trade 
show paper (founded' in 1883), 
changing its name to Die Unter- 
naltungmusik (Entertainment Music) 
after turning exclusively to orches- 
tras. 

+t,F h i lip v Le 5- ing ,!. i ! or . years running 
the Breslau Liebich (vaude) and out 
because of those Nuremberg laws, 
has taken over the Kiraly Szinhas, 
Budapest; to open with vaude on 
Oct. 1. 

Jules Marx, former Scala director 
and managing the Plaza, Berlin; 
T ei L i5 den . Leipzig; Arena. Rotter- 
^JL Fl0 , ra A1 tona- ahd Olympic, 
Dortmund, now again running the 
Arena, Rotterdam. 



London 



Quebec 



W. Haynes in from Toronto. 
George Daws here from N. Y. ' 
, Arthur Hirsh back from N. Y. 
w ? er i7 in from Three Rivers. 
V U SS Volstead in from Toronto. 

A# ^'JR^'y here from Saint John. 
, Fred Winters visiting from Mbnc- 
ton. 

through Costis ' GranDv . « Passing 

Joe Lightstone back from a long 
visit to N. Y. 

Gene Paul m.c.'ing at Kerhulu and 
Odiau cabaret. 

George Rotsky injured his hand 
but is convalescing. 
a ^pSiSourkes, formerly of United 
Artists Exchange, over to Empire. 
r., To the „ s .?, ri S s: Bm Jeffreys, Willie 
Ellman, Bill Lester and Alec Adel- 
man. 

Allan M. Irwin awarded the Pam- 
phjle Lemay literary award by Laval 
University for his travel book: 
'Kings and Cabbages.' . 

Spyros Skouras in town. Visit 
associated by undercurrent gossip 
w^th projected, purchase.' by. Skouras 
Bros, of shares earring control of 
United Amusement Corp., which run 
21 neighborhood -theatres in this 
province. 



•Marigold' is being revived Oct. 13 
with Sophie Stewart in the role cre- 
ated by Angele Baddeley in 1927. 

Elsie Carlisle latest greyhound 
owner. Bought Speedway Mick, 
which is running on the • Wembley 
track. 

When Charles Laughton is avail- 
able he will star in Norman Gins- 
bury's new play, 'The First Gentle- 
man*. 

Flanagan and Allen's contract with 
General Theatres expires in January, 
with the team asking $1,750 for re- 
newal, 

Maurice Colbourne's play, 'Charles 
the King' comes to the Lyric, Oct. 9, 
starring Barry Jones and Gwen 
Frangcon Davles. 

Following certain alterations, the 
ban has been lifted on' Elsie Schauf- 
fler's play, .'Parnell,' which will be 
shortly produced- here ... 

Five people off the Palladium bill 
on Yom Kippur^; Bud Flanagan, Joe 
Hayman, Jacke Frere (orchestra 
leader) and two minor part players; 

H. B. Warner signed by Herbert 
Wilcox for feature part in 'The Navy 
Eternal,' its the role for which Sir 
Guy Standing was originally slated. 

Stella Andreva, once a principal 
girl in pantomime under the name 
of Stella Browne,- will sing leading 
roles at the Metropolitan, New York, 
next year. • . • 

H. & G. circuit (Hyams Brothers 
and Gell). in new offices at Cork 
street, -formerly occupied by Charles 
Woolft so as to be near the Gau- 
mont-British publicity office. 

'Mr. Deeds Goes to Town' (Col) is 
in its sixth and last week at the 
Regal, where it has broken all house 
records. It will be succeeded by the 
new Grace Moore film, 'The King 
Steps Out' (Col). 

Daniel Mayer Co. will .produce a 
new thrUler, 'Black ' Limilight,' by 
Gordon Sherry in London in Novem- 
ber. About the same time Busbar 
and Tuerk- are .slated to produce the 
piece in New York. 

The Hague 

By W. M. Etty-Leal 

Legit-season in full swing now 
here. 

At the Hague, premiere of 'Rose. 
Marie' (MG). ■ 

Schouwtooneel . billing 'The Old 
Maid' by Zoe Akins. . 

Wm. Randolph Hearst and Marion 
Davies visiting Amsterdam. 

Jushny's plans for Holland matur- 
ing and his first Dutch cabaret 
launched. 

•In Amsterdam at the City Cinema, 
the' world premiere of the newest 
Dutch pic 'Meryntje Gyzen's Youth.' 

Conductor Bruno Walter, at occa- 
sion of his 60th. birthday, got a high 
decoration from the Queen of Hoi 
land. 

Tobis Syndicate distributing films 
produced by Dutch director Gerard 
Rutten. First on list is 'Pension 
Fortuna.' 

Conductor Max Gabriel, born in 
Germany but who, before, the war, 
JXSi*^ j n N«w York, celebrated his 
75th birthday here. 



Hollywood 



Chicago 



Joe Sanders orchestra going on out 
the road. 

Sam Gerson back from . eastern 
Shubert look-around. 

Sidney Strotz off to Virginia farm 
for a couple of weeks. 

Ralph Kettering back in town 
with 'Night of Jan. 16/ 

Jack Long and Frank Gamier new 
local songwriting team. 

Essaness tossed a golf tournament 
for its employees last week. 

John Balaban at his desk after a 
couple of days in New York. 

Michael Todd organizing hew edi- 
tion of 'Bring on the Dames' unit. 

Lester . Jay doubling from 'Dead 
End' to radio assignments locally. 

Dave Wallerstein , making the 
rodnds of the Balaban & Katz hold- 
ings in Indiana.' 

Song pluggers on the merry-go- 
round trying to make all the nitery 
openings these, past two weeks. 

Frederick ^Donaghey by-lining 
some special contributions on the 
legit page of , the Chicago Daily 
News. 

Morris Gest counting the house 
from the lobby of the Harris, where 
'Lady Precious, Stream' is doing a 
two-week stint. 

Renee Howard back in town and 
in as publicity director for Congress 
hotel, particularly handling reopen- 
ing of Urban Room. 

Roger Graham suffered physical 
breakdown. and will be in hospital 
for the winter; May Hill and Art 
Goldie handling his business in the 
interim. 

Alice Gerstenberg up to her neck 
in work between council of WPA 
theatre project and rehearsals of 
'Call Me Ziggy.'.to be premiered 
shortly at the Playwrights' theatrei ... 



Buster Keaton back in town. 
Robert Benchley off to New York. 
Laird Doyle took his finals for 
pilot's license. 

Richard Dix bought an estate zt 
Santa Barbara. 

Julia Curtiss, vaude actress, here to 
dig up screen labor. 
^oS^^B^wells celebed their 
13th wedding annl. 

George Hirlinian back from dis- 
trib confabs in east. 

v. Fl 25. 1 L Scull y held open house in 
his Whitley Heights, menage. 

Claire . Trevor and mother going 
east for a two-month vacash. 
• Mrs. E. J. Mannix and Mrs. W. S. 
Van Dyke leaving for Boston. 

Dan Milner goes to Chesterfield to 
edit film on 'House of Secrets.' 

Republic has added Richard Beach 
an .SL C . arKon Y °ung to stock staff. 

Thais Dickerson, playing in FTP 

pI ™?-,, n L> A u' * or Earners test. 

William Thalberg, father of Irving 
Thajber*, breezed to N. Y. on biz. 

ot a ff 1 ^ 0 i M ^F rmo i iefl J / oined Publicity 
staff at Radio to handle foreign press. 

Ramon Novarro back from two- 
City personal 8 PP ear ance in Mexico 

Jack Cunningham, Par producer. 
Ca a nal ing * e&St throu e h th e 

Monckton Hoffe, writer, has re^ 
turned to .Metro after a lengthy va- 
cation. J . 

*J ed i ? ea i y ! nd P art y P^ned east 
to catch the tail-end of the World 
Series. ' 

Arthur Klein has quit the John 
Zanft agency to become a 10% 'er on 
his own. 

Kay Hughes doing her initial 
warbling stint in 'The flig Show' at 
Republic. • . . . 

Gene Raymond and Jeanette Mac- 
Donald^ publicly announced they'll be 
wedded June. - • : 

Rose Heitner, Earl Carrol show 
girl, debuts in Republic's 'The Coun- 
try Gentleman/ 

WDliam Powell's eye injury eased 
up and production of 'After the Thin 
Man' went on. 

Laurence Schwab made assistant 
producer oh the Eddie Cantor pic- 
ture at 20th-Fox. 

Young son of Harry Brand under- 
went an J . emergency appen op at 
Cedars of Lebanon. 

Arthur Janisch, erstwhile U pub- 
licist, has Joined Paul Snell in Sol 
Lesser's department. 

For apparently no reason at all, 
Adolphe Menjou has a valet who 
speaks only Spanish. 

Fritz Leiber topped a horse for 
scenes in 'Under Southern Stars' for 
the first time, in 20 years. 

Hilda- Gr.enler, once a hairdresser 
to Queen Mary, is technical adviser 
on Radio's 'Quality Street.' 

Elmer Rice will tell about tha 
theatre and its future at the L. A. 
Philharmonic Aud. Nov. 16. 

David Dunbar, Australian, who was 
a fave in silent pix, has joined 
Metro's makeup department. 

Erie Kenton, through illness, had 
to relinquish megging reins on 
Depths Below* (Col.) to D. Ross 
Lederman. 

James Melton trained out for New 
York to resume his radio work. He 
finished in 'Melody for Two' prior 
to leaving. 

Art Schwartz to northern Cali- 
fornia establishing prof departments 
for the Music Holding Corp. and 
Music Sales. 

Bob Taylor, Nat Goldstone, ' Tony 
Martin^ and Les Petersen planed 
n °rth for the California-St. Mary's 
football game. 

Preston Foster is due here Oct. 15 
from the east to start work in 'Out- 
.««*?.■<* Poker Flats' at Radio. He's 
visiting his sick father. 

When Mae West washed up in 'Go 
West, Young Man,' for Emanuel 
t-ohen, in 40 shooting days, producer 
tossed a binge for outfit. 

William Strong, Metro assistant 
lenser, was hurt slightly when an 
auto in which he was returning from 
Frisco joh went over a ditch. 

Gordon Kahn, ertswhile N. Y. Mir- 
ror writer, reported at Republic to 
script 'The Gangs of New York,' 
oased on the Herbert Asbury book. 

Abe Meyer, who spent the last 
seven years on the General Service 
lot, is moving into his own building 
in Hollywood. Meyer reps 40 music 
pubs. 

Looks as if young Tommy Breen, 
"-Xear-old.son of Joseph I. Breen, 
of the Hays Coast office, may obtain 
coveted spot in Selznick-Interna- 
tionals 'Adventures of Tom' Saw- 
yer.' 

Dorothy Lamotir has joined her 
hubby, Herbie Kay. playing in Chi, 
following a siege at the Cedars of 
Lebanon hosp after collapse from 
overwork in 'The Jungle Princess' 

Third generation of the Bacon 
family has donned the grease paint. 
Frances Bacon, daughter of Lloyd, 
and grandotter of Frank (Lightnin') 
Bacon, debuted in a little theatre 
show. . 

Edward Stevenson, who was as- 
sistant to Bernard Newman as cos- 
tume designer at Radio before latter 
left studio recently, gets the boss' 
job as per Sam J. Briskin's com- 
mand. 

Man who beat up Dean Hyskell, 
F-WC advertising chief, in h.o. pro- 
jection studio some weeks ago; re- 
ceived sentence of 180 days in jail, 
but Hyskell consented to two years' 
probation. - " 



Wednesday, October 7, 1936 



TIME S SQUARE 



VARIETY 



61 



News From the Dailies 

This department contains rewritten theatrical news items as pub- 
lished during the week in the daily papers of New York, Chicago, 
San Francisco, Hollywood and London, Variety takes no credit Jor 
these news items; each has been rewritten from a daily paper. 



East 



Anna Case, classical dancer, suing 
her husband to set aside a, separation 
settlement which she ^charges was 
obtained through fraud. In counter- 
suit, entered last week, hie charges 
she confessed infidelity with at least 
four men last year. 

Floyd B. Odium, of Atlas, has pur- 
chased Franklin Simon & Co. "His 
divorced wife is prez of •Bonwit, 
Teller &- Co., a short distance up the 
avenue. 

Track, builders Urging federal 
court .to operas pup racing at the 
Wyack track, so that it may recover 
outlay. State clamped .down opening 
day, but track continued operation, 
taking in $7,000 or $8,000 profit in 10 
days of operation. 

New. faces in 'New Faces' will be 
those "Of the Duncan sisters. " 

Bob ' Edge, radio sports announcer, 
fined $20 at Toms River, N. J., for 
having a rifle in> his .car in a 'deer 
wood.' His companion was soaked 
$100 on the charge of hunting deer 
out of season. 

. : N. Y. ' had ' its first" snowstorm 
Wednesday (30), but it was. confined 
to' the top floors of the Ernpire State. 
Rain \ by the time it reached . the 
sidewalk. . 

Edward Johnson, of the Met, to be 
principal speaker at the Opera Guild 
meeting this (Wednesday,). afternoon. 



BIG N Y. SPORTS' 





New York's cavalcade of ' sport 
topped by the world's series ball 
games and the Futurity last' week 
had its favorable reaction' on Broad- 
way, seeing excellent business in the 
theatres and night ■ spots. Along 
with the sporting toppers, the stage 
contributed its share during an un- 
usual , week by the premiere of 
•White Horse Inn* (Center). 

The Yankee slaughter had a 
peculiar reaction in the -ticket 
agencies and despite the ; announce- 
ment that the Stadium held a record 
crowd, there were plenty of empty 
seats because the specs were stuck. ( 
- Reports of the brokers charging 4 
heavy • coin for ducats was exag- 
gerated. Single tickets went for 
from $8 to $10 each, with a few good 
locations bringing $15, while some 
sets of tickets for three games 
brought as high as $45.. But the 
agencies were selling almost at any 
price Saturday afternoon and eve- 
ning for the Sunday (4) game, prices 
being $6 and $7. Monday there were 
plenty of empty space, in the Sta- 
dium upper stand. Tickets were 
turned into agencies at a sacrifice 
and sold at b.o. rates. 

Out-of-towners seemed surprised 
that the regular box office price for 
the games was $5.50. They: figured 
it was $3.30. Sunday game also at 
the Stadium brought out another 
record crowd. 

The series did not affect the draw 
of the' $80,000 Futurity at Belmont 
race track. Big .delegation from 
Philadelphia .wa6 on hand principally 
because of . the interest in the winner, 
Pompoon, owned by Jerry Loucheim, 
who also owns the Warwick hotel 
over there.- ' When the outstanding 
two-year-old rdmped home to. win 
easily, Louc'heim's wife and daughter 
shed tears of joy. 

Afternoon papers were supplied 
■with series pictures delivered in 
novel fashion. Acme service used 
pigeons to fly small ■ negatives 
downtown. Wide World (N. Y. 
Times), however, had a 'more com- 
prehensive service. A . garage near 
the Polo Grounds and a factory near 
■ the Stadium were used as wire-photo 
plants. Short-wave loop was used 
for sending the pictures to out-of 
town papers. Wide World also sup- 
Plied other papers "in New York, 
using a truck in which the - films 
were developed and. ready " for use 
by the time the car'reached mid 
town. 

The McLarnin-Canzoneri fight was 
put over to Monday (5) . night. Base- 
ball fans were still in town but the 
demand for tickets was reported con 
siderably under expectations. This 
week has another major boxing 
event, the Hippodrome offering its 
first fight Card with Joe Louis 
matched with George Brescia, Fri 
day night (9). 



Lucrezia Bori guest of honor. Hotel 
Pierre. 

Receiving stable at Belmont Park 
burned last week, but none of the 
800 horses stabled there were 
harmed.. Loss $12,000. 

Grover Whalen predicts N. Y. fair 
will gross $100,000,000, on a basis of 
50,000,000 attendance. Expects profits 
to finance restoration of site to park 
use. 

Leopold Lever, WPA musician, 
given $50 for suggesting the concerts 
in Md. Sq. Garden last summer. 
First prize in a contest for ideas. 
Garden sponsored contest. 

Magistrate Rudich, of Brooklyn 
court, rules that four saxophone 
players in one room violates the city 
anti-noise ordinance. Suspended 
sentence on promise by players not 
to repeat. 

Lily Pons to appear in Korsakov's 
'The Golden Rooster' at the Met this 
season. Part requires ability as a 
dancer, and she's been, taking lessons 
in Hollywood. .•''■' 

Alfred Fondler, 22, haled into 
court last week for pasting a black 
eye onto 'Margaret Schultz in a 
Bronx picture house. Fondler ex- 
plained she and her sister were talk- 
ing so much he was unable to enjoy 
the picture. Magistrate Curran per- 
suaded the girl to withdraw the 
charge. Seemed to approve Fpn- 
dler's action. 

James C. Rule obtained an injunc- 
tion Thursday restraining Paul L. 
and Stewart Berney from producing 
'Mrs. Temple Is Willing,' done at 
Scarsboro strawhat last summer. 
Says it's practically his own 'A Will' 
to LOve.' Defense offers that he 
agreed to their action. 

Episcopal Guild held its first after- 
noon reception last Sunday in the 
Guild hall of the Church of the 
Transfiguration. 

Harmonica player took first prize 
in the Central Park music, contest 
Thursday. Second went to a 'tongue 
clicker,' who makes sounds by roll 
ing his tongue around. 

Ken Murray has taken the rights 
to 'Shlemiel,' Yiddish musical, and 
David Freedman may adapt it for 
Broadway. 

Ethel Smith Atwell, former chbrus 
girl and divorced wife of Roy At- 
well, to marry Cyril Tolley, golf pro, 
at Westport, Conn. 

Janet Olcott, adopted daughter of 
the late Irish comedian, - made the 
(Continued on page 62) 



Abe Lyman Suing 
McLarnin's Manager 
For $500,000 Libel 



Abe Lyman, orch Wader, filed suit 
in the N. Y. Supreme Court Friday 
(2) against Charles (Pop) Foster, 
manager of Jimmy McLarnin, light- 
weight fighter, alleging libel and de- 
manding $500,000 damages. Action Is 
an outcome of the McLarnin-Barney 
Ross fight of May, 1935. 

At the time of the battle there was 
considerable publicity concerning the 
dispute between Pop Foster and Lyr 
man, the former openingly alleging 
that Lyman did not play fair in the 
matter of bets -made on the outcome 
of the battle. The name of Jack 
Dempsey, who refereed the fight, 
was prominently mentioned and in 
the present action he is involved as 
'a friend- of Lyman.' 

Lyman's complaint, filed by his at- 
torneys-Manuel- -Maxwell, alleges, in 
part that Foster made certain der- 
rogatory remarks against him before 
the N. Y. Boxing Commission prior 
to the fight. Part of this statement, 
Lyman claims, follows: 

'Abe Lyman had placed a bet of 
$10,000 on Ross to win. Dempsey, 
the referee, is Lyman's friend. All 
Broadway knew that Lyman was 
trying to get money down on Ross 
and in Dempsey's restaurant he 
bragged about his wager and his 
loyalty to Ross. Many other, night 
club characters had placed bets at 
big odds on .Ross, but these others, 
although they, too, are friends of 
Dempsey, made bets of which I had 
no certain knowledge. I did know 
of Lyman's, however, and so when 
Dempsey went into the ring and 
raised Ross's hand as the winner he 
made $10,000 for at least one of his 
pals.' 

The Boxing Commission took no 
action on Foster's squawk at the 
time.. Lyman now claims that Pop's 
remarks indicated that he had con- 
nived with Dempsey before the fight 
in order that he 'might win dishon- 
estly a wager.' He charges that Fos- 
ter's remarks damaged his reputa- 
tion and tended to lessen his popu- 
larity and earnings as an orchestra 
leader. Foster has 30 days in which 
to file an answer. 



M'LARNIN EVENS COUNT 
IN RETURN WITH CANZY 



By JACK PULASKI 

It may have been the end of the 
pugilistic road for Tony Canzoneri 
Monday (5) night at. Madison Square 
Garden, when he was decisively 
beaten by Jimmy McLarnin in 10 
rounds. But the courage of the 
swarthy Brooklynite kept him try-^ 
ing and forced the respect of the 
one-time dynamite puncher from 
Vancouver. 

First six rounds furnished, excite- 
ment to the fairly good house. After 
that the contest tapered off. Fight 
was postponed from Friday (2) be- 
cause Canzy bad sustained a split lip 
while training. However, at that 
time the seat demand was light. 
Over the weekend interest perked up 
and fans in for the World Series 
helped the attendance. House was 
far from the capacity which the first 
match between them drew. 

Their contest last May was more 
thrilling, for Tony weathered a tough 
first round and came on to smack 
Jimmy all over the ring. Mickey 
went to his dressing room that night 
with the left side of his map swollen 
twice its normal size. But it was 
Canzoneri who exhibited the wounds 
of battle this time. Both eyes were 
cut and bleeding and his schnoz was 
a gory bulb. 

Canzy went to the canvas in the 
second run from a right, and the 8 to 
5 odds on Baby Face jumped up- 
ward, the sports making fresh bets 
around ringside. For a price they 
would wager Tony would not. last 
the distance. But he arose after a 
short count and thereafter took Mc- 
Larnin's socks without seeming in 
danger of a kayo. 

Condition Counts 
Better condition probably counted 
as much in Jimmy's win as his 
punching power. It seemed quite 
evident that he cannot knock 'em flat 
as in former times. He won the 
fight with his left paw, mostly with 
jabs and sometimes connecting with 
portside hooks. Canzy didn't seem 
able to get away from the left ex- 
cept towards the end. of several 
rounds when he forced his way in 
and landed some corking .wallops. 
Twice Jimmy's legs wobbled, but at 
the end he was in the much better 
condition.. 

In ring circles Canzoneri is con- 
sidered a veteran and is also sup- 
posed to have all the cash he needs. 
Same goes for McLarnin, so why 
they continue in the game is puz- 
zling. 

Garden opens today (Wednesday) 
with the Rodeo, and the next boxing 
card is dated for Oct. 30, when Sixto 
Escobar will defend his bantam title 
against Baby Quintana. 



Football 



By DICK FISHELL 



Last Saturday was an unusual day 
insomuch as practically everything 
went as expected. The one upset, 
if it could be called' that, was on the 
Pacific Coast by St. Mary's, which 
trampled all over California as this 
column stated it would. Yale was 
much too smart for the Cornell 
sophomores and Michigan State at- 
tained their yearly ambition and 
downed' the Wolverines of Michigan. 

Here goes for the coming week 
end— with a prayer. 

Ohio State— Pittsburgh 
Outstanding game of the Country 
brings together two of the real 
powerhouses of the grid circles. The 
Buckeyes 60-0 triumph over N.Y.U. 
was a mere indication of the power 
they possess. - Their only loss last 
season was to Notre .Dame in a 
blood-curdling conflict that might 
have gone' either way. They've re- 
tained practically almost, all of their 
1935 varsity and their reserves are 
three and lour deep. 

Jock Sutherland's Panthers are 
probably the ' best ' group of mole- 
skinners' ever had at his command. 
In their two games so far this sea- 
son, they've turned up unheard .of 
backs, who ran 60 and 70 yards 
against pretty fair opposition. Ohio 
State will be the favorite but this 
department favors Pittsburgh to 
turn the tables. 

Columbia — Army 

Columbia' has three promising 
sophomores which, added to their 
veteran material, makes up quite a 
combination. Sid Luckman, vice 
Al Barabas as kingpin, throws quite 
a pass and totes the apple with equal 
facility. 

The Cadets with Only four; vet- 



game of the year and from the way 
the green-shirted boys have been 
moving, Hunk Anderson's team will 
be set back on their heels. 
' .Carnegie Tech-Mlehlgan State 

Michigan State proved its worth by 
bumping off Harry Kipke's Wolver- 
ines, but there Is always added in- 
centive for them to win that one. 
Tech showed surprising strength . 
against the Irish, but the Spartans 
will slide safely home. 

Harvard-Brown 

Hate to even talk about this' one, 
but football .without the Big Three 
doesn't seem to be football. Brown 
has nothing but II uniforms they 
send but on the field, and Harvard 
will win a. major game — if this can " 
be put in that classification — without 
working up afgood sweat. 

Dartmouth-Holy Cross 

Hanover Indians had a very . im- - v 
pressive record last fall, but. they 
•can't wear their newspaper clippings 
of last year on the field this week- 
end, and even if they could, the 'Holy 
Cross players ' haven't got time to 
read them — if they can read. Dart- 
mouth' might be a . slight favorite in 
•the- betting, but we favor the Cru- 
«aders. . • 

Syracuse-Baldwin Wallace 
There's a funny name and a good 
many probably never heard it. They 
happen to be the nation's high-scor- 
ing team of last year and the cham- 
pions of the Ohio conference. A vic- 
tory for them over the Orange would 
give them national recognition, but 
we're afraid theyTl still remain just 
the champions of Ohio. Vic Hansen 
has really got something! 

L. S. tf.-Georgla 
Georgia is still undefeated, while 



BIRTHS 

Mr. and Mrs. Don Chambers, son, 
last week in Hartford, Conn. Father 
is publicity director for M. & P. 

Mr. and Mrs. Joe Schoehfeld 
(Variety), son, their first, Oct. 1, in 
N.Y. 

Mr. and Mrs. Martin Lewis, son, 
in Chicago, Sept. 26. Father is as- 
sociate editor of Radio Guide. 
• Mr. and' Mrs. Pedro de Cordoba, 
girl, in Los Angeles, Oct. 2. Father 
is a picture actor. ". ' 

Mr. and Mrs. William Bishop, son, 
Oct. 4, in Los Angeles. Father is 
20th-Fox publicist. 

Mr. and Mrs. Cedric Belfrage, 
daughter, Oct. 4, in Los Angeles. 
Father is an English journalist now 
scripting in Hollywood. 

MARRIAGES 

Anita Geraty, vaudevillian and 
runner-up for this year's 'Miss Cam- 
den' title, to Rupert George, director 
of minstrel show over WIP, Sept. 30, 
in Philadelphia. 

Florence Barton to Charles Tan- 
nen in Ensenada, Mexico, Sept. 19. 
Tannen, picture actor, is son of 
Julius Tannen. Bride formerly 
worked in Metro's casting office. 

Yvonne Danziger to James Ranieri, 
in New York, Sept. 30. Groom is 
radio announcer with stations WFAB 
and WHOM, Jersey City. 

Lois Benson, staff comedienne on 
WBAL, to Charles Birmingham, non- 
pro, Oct, 2 in Baltimore.. 

Norman Pyle to Jule Anna Carney, 
Oct. 1, in Washington, D. C. Groom 
is Metro p. a. in territory from Phila. 
south to Georgia. Bride non-pro. 

Kenneth Roberts, announcer at 
WABC, New York, to Sylvia Lowe, 
secretary to James R. Ullman, legit 
producer, in New York, secretly, 
Sept. 12. 

Gloria Narath, original Minnie 
Mouse in Walt Disney cartoons, to 
J. R. Smith, first freckle face in 'Our 
Gang' comedies, Oct. 4, in Santa 
Monica. 



Probable Football Winners and 
Proper Odds 



October 10 



By DICK FISHELL 



GAMES WINNER . . ODDS 

Ohio State-Pitt ........I'Ht .. '5/6 

Columbia-Army -..Army ,i. ........ 7/5 

Fordham- SMU 4 . Fordham „,,,„„,„„„„„. 8/5 

Penn-Yale ..Yale ..«.,,,»..,,..... .Even 

Manhattan-North Carolina State. .Manhattan 6/5 
Carnegie Tech-Michigan State . . . Michigan State ............... 9/5 

Dartmouth-Holy Cross Hply Cross <.....».........',.. 5/6 

Harvard-Brown Harvard , , , 

LSU-Georgia ..LSU ............ 8/5 

Syracuse-Baldwin Wallace Syracuse . 

Michigan-Indiana. Indiana ... 

Minnesota-Nebraska .-. .Minnesota 

Tennessee-Auburn Auburn .. 

Oregon State-California ..California 



.»»..,,..., 9/5 

«•*»•••».. .Even 

8/5 

...... 8/5 

7/5 

Illinois-Southern California Southern California 9/5 

(Predictions based on fair weather) 
Copyright, 1936, by Variety, Die. .• 



erans will be led by the 150-pound 
Monk Meyer, a small package of 
dynamite. Again this seems to be 
a case of the veterans of West Point 
who have had anywhere from two 
to three years of college football, 
before matriculating at the soldiers' 
school, vs. some untried gridders 
from Morningside ■ Heights. The 
Army artillery will wear down the 
Columbia , first line and their ma- 
chine-gun. marksmen; Meyer and 
Craig should go over the top on 
this one. 

Fordham — Southern Methodist V 

The Aerial Circus of the South- 
erners come into the big city with a 
much talked about offense that rated 
them the Rose Bowl appointment 
last New Year's Day, Fordham is 
.on their way. They've got every- 
thing necessary to make them one 
of the first three teams in. the na- 
tion. It's power, speed and finesse 
personified. The tipoff was their 
overwhelming victory over Franklin 
& Marshall, nobody's pushover,. The 
Ram should victoriously welcome 
the Mustang aerial circus with open 
arms and prove that they have many 
a clown in the troupe. 

Penn — Yale 

The Quakers have a veteran 
eleven and a steam-roller machine; 
if it ever gets moving. Only once 
in the past two years did they go to 
town and that was when they 
swamped Columbia last Fall. On 
the other hand, Old Eli has a well 
rounded squad — capable reserve — 
and Ducky Pond seems to have the 
situation well in hand. Yale will 
take to the air arid grab this game 
by a few points. 
Manhattan — North Carolina State 
This is Chick Meehan's first major 



Louisiana State U, has been tied- . 
This is the week-end Louisiana goes 
to town. They'll win in a decisive 
fashion. > 

Tennessee-Auburn 
Another battle below the Mason r 
Dixon Line with Tennessee under 
Major Neyland coming to the fore 
slowly, but surely. Auburn was! held 
even last week, but they'll down 
Tennessee by two touchdowns. 
Michigan-Indiana 
Bo. McMillan of All-Ameriean 
fame at Center College some years 
back has developed a topnotch crew 
of gridders at Indiana, while Harry 
Kipke has still only that kick, pass 
and prayer system, and most of his 
plays are of the last variety. It is an 
even-Steven game, with Indiana get- 
ting the shade. 

Minnesota-Nebraska 
Everything being equal, this game 
would be a toss-up, and would nor- ' 
mally pick Nebraska, but Minnesota ' 
has had two weeks' rest* their last 
game being against Washington, out 
on the Coast. With 14 days to re- 
cover from that trip, they'll continue 
their unbroken string of victories 
over the Cornhuskers. 

Oregon State-California 
The Bears were knocked off their 
perch by St. Mary's last week, but 
that won't keep them from going 
through the rest of their season un- 
defeated. They'll take Oregon State 
and stop fooling! 

Illinois-XT. S. C. 

Bob Zuppke's material at Illinois 
for the past five years has been be- 
low midwestern standard. Howard 
Jones and his Trojans can. play 
double-headers against the. Ill.-iypa . 
of team and win. It's the manpower 
per usual. 



62 



VARIETY 



Wednesday, October 7, 1936 



OBITUARIES 



.. HERB WILLIAMS . , 

Herb Williams, 52i born Herbert 
Schussler Billerbeck in Philadelphia, 
died Oct. 1 of internal hemorrhages 
at bis home in Freeport, L. I. He. was 
ill. three days and an autopsy was 
necessary to determine, the cause of 
death. .' At first the cause was re- 
ported as pneumonia. • 

Williams* rose from the position of 
pit pianist in a ShamOkin, , Pa, the- 
atre to the top comedy acts in show 
business in a span' of 35 years. His 
initial ambitions were for the con-' 
cert stage, yet' none of his. intimates, 
are' cognizant of why or How he 
turned to comedy after graduating 
from the Philadelphia Conservatory 
^pf Music. ' 

From' Shamokin Williams moved 
to Philadelphia for another pit or- 
chestra position. He teamed with 
Hulda Wolf us, married her, and 
shortly . afterwards >moved in the 
strata of vaudeville headliner with 
an act. thai became ■ internationally 
known as Williams and Wolf us. The 
combination was ruptured for a 
short time. 21 years ago whiles Miss 
Wolf us was bearing their first child, 
Doris. Bart McHtigh, late Philadel- 
phia vaudeville producer, learned. 
Williams with Tom.' Kennedy' for. a 
year or so. Kennedy is now a vaude- 
ville producer* 

-Reteamed with Miss Wolfus, Wil- 
liams again v moved upwfifrds, head- 
lined from" coast to coast; oh the 
' Keith and Qrpheum. time as well as 
fn Europe. That a man with, con- 
cert ambitions should have turned to 
hoke comedy was incongruous enough, 
but stranger yet was the fact that 
he never played the piano seriously 
on the stage. He ]used- a prop jftano, 
which, disgorge^ beet and fell apart 
and became widely known. 
: Domestic difficulties about 10 
. years ago finally split the Williams 
and Wolfus- team for good, the pair 
agreeing to a divorce with a 50-50 
'property split; 

Williams, then surrounded himself 
with a four-people act; retaining 

, most of the Williams, and Wolfus ma- 
terial, and eventually married his 
nyv' femme assist Jean Halpin. She 

. also bore him a daughter, Diana, 
now . eight. Up till this time the 
comedian had appeared in only one 
'-.. Broadway - musical,- a • John -.Murray 
Anderson, production -in .1924!-But .in 
1930 lie scored, in. that-year-'s edition 
of Earl .Carroli'sv.iVanities'; . then 
he moved into. a- straight play, Marc 
CorinellyrExank- . • B,; • .Elser's Th^ 
Farmer Takes -a .Wtfe,'- His last legit 
appearance. was 4ast -year -with Be 
atrice; Lillie . in. /At .Home- Abroad.' 

In the.last .year- -ploture9 'took no. 
tice tif WJlHamV. -talent -and- he was 
featured . /by-. Paramount- -in two 

• films, 'Rose c*the.Ranoho,-'-with*Wil- 
lie Howard , being- one of them/ 
" Williams' • friands in and out of 
.show business were legion; he was a 
qUietr unassuming personality off the 
stage and was known for his un- 

■ publicized -charities ia performers in 
need. His chief hobby-' was his home, 
adding- to- it yearly until how it is 
one Of the showpieces of. Freeport. 

"Surviving. Williams, besides his 
two daughters, and his first' and sec- 
ond wives, are,, his father, .Henry 

. Billerbeck; a brother, Milton, and a 
sister, Mrs. Edna Ebenbeck, Funeral 
services were held jn Freeport; Oct. 
2, with, burial Opt 3 in Philadelphia. 

HARRY FITZGERALD 

Harry Fitzgerald, 55,. one of . the 
leading ..talent agents for , more than 

.. 20. years, died Oct. 4 in Los Angeles 
after a year's illness. He gave up 
his agency business in New York 
two. years; ago when. Winfleld Shee- 
han engaged him as; a talent' scout 
for Fox, but retired when stricken. 

Fitzgerald started as an agent 
about 25 years ago . in partnership 

. with Louis Westley, later going on 
his own. While chiefly a Keith and 
RKQ : franchise holder, he. covered 
the field, including pictures, and was 

...always recognized as a pioneer in 
launching hew styles, in. acts and en- 
tertainment, . ' 

Fitzgerald was credited with .in- 
troducing jazz to New York when 
booking a ^mall jazz band into the 

- Pekin restaurant on Broadway . 18 
years ago. He found Paul White- 
man, then an unknown, in Atlantic 
City in 1619 and sold . the band .to 
the Palais Royal, . then to the Palace. 
He booked Will. Rogers in his first 
job for Ziegfeld, in the 'Midnight 
Frolic' at $350 a week. One of Fitz- 
gerald's, stunts for the then Keith- 
Albee circuit was the importing of 
the 30-piece Mexican Tipica ma- 
rimba orchestra, -the first aggregation 
ot its kind to appear In, this country. 
Among the 'name acts represented 

by Fitzgerald were'W.C. Fields, Bill 



Robinson, Ted t Healy and -Allan 
Dinehart, 

• Widow, a brother, Leo, also an 
agent, and one child survive. 

Remains were shipped east for 
interment in New York Friday (9). 



BERNARD GRANVILLE 

Bernard Granville, 20 years ago 
one of the'most popular leading men 
in Broadway musical comedies and 
father of Bonita .Granville, - child 
film star, was found dead by friends 
the night of Oct.' 5 in his Hollywood 
apartment, which he had occupied 
since his arrival from New York 
three weeks ago. 

Although death was from natural 
causes, an autopsy took place 
Oct. «. 

Granville's first success of conse- 
quence was in Chicago. Subse- 
quently he ■ appeared"- in several 
Ziegfeld 'Follies* productions at the 
Whiter (Garden,, and - in 'No, No, 
Nanette.' He' Was- extremely ' versa- 
tile, an excellent dancer, one of the 
first of the eccentric type, arid had 
a good tenor voice. He retired from 
the theatre about, five years ago to 
enter the - insurance: business. 

His daughter and widow, ' Rosina 
Timponi, formerly ■ a ' professional, 
survive. 



. JOHN LYNCH 

John Lynch, 66, writer under con- 
tract to Metro studios, died in Los 
Angeles Oct. 3 following/heart at- 
tack. Lynch, born in New York City,' 
started into the theatrical business 
after being educated; at .Cornell and 
Georgetown .universities. 

He started as an- exhibitor in Syra- 
cuse, Rochester, Albany and. Utica, 
N. Y. Later he worked with Lewis 
J. Selznick and Jesse L. Lasky and 
the Shuberts. .He went. to the Coast' 
in 1916. He adapted 'Grand Duchess 
and the Waiter,' 'Woman of the 
World,' 'The Ne'er Do Well' and 
^Volcano.' . 

Widow survives. Because of de- 
ceased's wishes no funeral was held. 



IRVING HAYWARD 

Irving Hayward, 48, professionally 
known as Alan Brooks, died at the 
NVA sanatorium, Saranac, last' week, 
after a lingering illness of two- years. 
•' . F.Qr. .years he. .was' recognized' as a 
producer. , in. .both the legit and 
vaudeville, field,, starred in his own 
vaudeville, act. and. a headliner for 
many years. 

.He was in moving pictures about 
two .months, that being his first real 
break,, when he -had his break-down 
that. sent. him to the- mountains. 



for many years associated with the 
Musical Publishing Co. of Cleveland, 
was killed Sept.- 24 when he was. 
thrown from his automobile while 
en route home. 

His widow, two sons and a daugh- 
ter survive. Interment at Perry. 



R. C. NICHOLLS 

Captain R. C. Nicholls, 56, a one- 
time assistant manager at the now 
defunct Capetown music Tiall, the 
Tivoli, and recently an air pilot, 
crashed Sept. 8 near the Aerodrome, 
Durban (Natal). He died whilst on 
the way to the hospital. 
Widow and one child survive. 



' BOOTH HOWARD 

Booth Howard; 47, film actor, was 
killed Oct.. 4 In Los Angeles, 'being 
run down by an auto as he was re- 
turning from a birthday party. 

He played in many pictures after, 
a long career in stock: 

JAMES M. MORDOFF 

James M. Mordoff, 81, died Sept. 30 
in Corona* Call., after a brief illness. 
He was for 15 years associated with 
Southern Poster Co. in Los Angeles. 
A daughter survives. '. 



JIMMY ADAMS 

Jimmy Adams, for several years 
manager of Loew's, Montreal, and 
for the past year, at the Metropoli- 
tan, Regina, died in. the latter city 
Oct. 5; 



WILMA SHUESLER 

Wilma Shuesler, 24, picture script 
writer, killed in plane crash in Chi- 
cago on Sept. 29. he was not mar- 
ried. 

Burial in Chicago. 



, HOWARD ADAMS 

Howard Adams, 27,' motion picture 
director, former actor and radio an-, 
nouhcer, killed in plane crash- with 
three others' in Chicago' on Sept. 29. 
Burial in Detroit.- 



Mrs. J. . A. Tlillnphast, , mother of 
Greenville. (S. C.) Piedmont sport 
editor and WFBC aircaster David 
Tillinghast, died Oct. 2. • 



CHARLES S. KLINE 

Charles 5. Kline, for more than 30 
years a prominent figure on Broad- 
way, died pet, 5 in New York. 
• He. was for a time associated> 6 wlth 
Capt. James Churchill- in the restau- 
rant business, one time proprietor of 
the Tokio cabaret and • in recent 
years the owner ol the Strand hil- 
liard rooms, home of , most of the 
important matches. 



News From the Dailies 



Air News 



.- ■ 1TBOR RAMBAUER . . 

' Tibor- Rambauer, 45, for the last 
12'yeaTS- general. manager for Brazil 
of- Paramount,, died in "Rio". Sept. 8 
after '.ah appendicitis "(operation. . 
■ He was a member of a dis-. 
tinguished Hungarian family and 
entered the moving picture field in 
Brazil in its early. stages! 

He was first associated' with Ger- 
man-picture concerns but soon asso- 
ciated himself with the American 
picture industry. , '.'■'. 



JOHN F. O'CONNELL 

John F. O'Cpnnell, 50, who had 
been with various circuses since 
boyhood", died in Tyler, Tex., Sept. 
29, of a heart attack; At the time of 
his death he was one of the 24-hour 
men on the Ringling-Barnurh & 
Bailey circus. His home was in 
Lynn, Mass. 

His widow and two sisters sur- 
vive. ' 



ALEXANDER DUNCAN 

Alexander Duncan, aged ■ 56, 
Rhodesian branch manager of 
African Consolidated Theatres, died 
suddenly in his office in Bulawayo, 
Sept. 7. 

His wife found him lying on the 
floor, and when aid was obtained, 
he was dead. Widow survives. 



CHARLES T. HAFER 

Charles Tr (Shorty) Hafer, 52, 
stage electrician for many years 
identified, with Cambridge, O., the- 
atres, died 1 there Sept. 26 after a 
brief illness. 

Funeral services and burial there. 



RALPH BIDDY - 

Ralph Biddy, 36, veteran motion 
picture camera man, newsreel pho- 
tographer and free lance producer* 
Willed in plane -crash on Sept. 29 
while taking commercial film' for 
Wilding company in Chicago. 

Burial in Detroit. 



LEWIS J. CURRIER 

. Lewis J. Currier, 65, of Perry, O., 
northeastern Ohio band leader and 



(Continued from page 1) 



ter-hour news • periods six days a 
weekand'52 weeks by. the; latter .con- 
tingent of merchandiser was no un- 
common thing. Among ,the petrol 
refiners the big underwriters of news 
broadcasts were' the various Stand- 
ard , Oil entities and the Tidewater 
Co. (Tydol). 

$100,000 for Hearst 

Yankee and Colonial networks rate 
as the -biggest single . source of. in- 
come for the distributors, of broad- 
cast news, it is figured that the con- 
tract which International News 
Service and Universal Service has 
with John Shepard, 3d, will bring 
the Hearst- organizations over 
$100,000 for 1936. Arrangement with 
Shepard obligates him to pay extra 
for everything which is not included 
in the regular service. 

In a checkup of its clients about a 
month ago, Transradio News Service 
found that every one of the stations 
had at -least one sponsor of news 
bulletins and that a goodly ' per- 
centage of them had all their avail- 
able news periods sold for the sea- 
son. The' check also disclosed that a 
100-watt station in a city of 250,000 
population - was averaging - $2,800 a 
month from the sale of news. 

Rated as the No. 1 station of the 
country in the overturn of news 
facilities is WOR, Newark. This 
50,000-watter, if it continues its 
present gait, will derive $385,000 this 
year from the sale alone of news 
broadcasting time. 

Transradio continues to head by a 
wide margin the roster -of news 
services catering to radio. On Oct. 
1 Transradio had 284 stations on its 
list, 58 of which were taken on as 
clients during the past summer. Dur- 
ing this latter period Transradio 
added two leased teletype circuits. 

Combined Hearst news services, 
claim a connection with 185 broad- 
casting -outlets,' while the United 
Press roll of station clients- is fig- 
ured at around 100. In, many in- 
stances stations, obtain . their news 
from two-' or more services. . . 



. (Continued from page 61) 

front pages la§t week when ' she 
broke her engagement- to Count de 
Montaigu. Split after- three- weeks 
said to have been occasioned by his 
request for a marriage settlement of 
around $200,000; • 

Daniel Frohman spoke on his 
'Reminiscences of the Stage' at the 
Town Hall Club Sunday (4). 

Open letter sent Toscanlnl. ap- 
plauding his refusal to permit broad- 
casts of his Salzburg music to Ger- 
many. Signed by 76 members of the 
N. Y. Philharmonic-Symphony and 
about 9p0 .other musicians, most of 
whom have played under the leader. 

• Ohio joins Michigan and Pennsyl- 
vania in barring pictures of Santa. 
Claus from holiday liquor bottlings 
and packages. Feels Santa and'likker 
do not blend well in the infant mind; 

.Tyson & Co. suing Gene Buck for 
theatre tickets allegedly sold him six 
years ago. Buck has no recollection 
of haying- ordered any. - 

. Chauffeurs' Union in N. Y. plans 
to picket funerals if on strike to- 
morrow (Thursday). 

Columbia Broadcasting has com.- 
missiohetf six writers to pen original 
music scripts for: broadcasting. Sym- 
phonies and operatic forms' limited 
to -40 mins., suites to 20 and single 
movements to. run between 8 and 14 
mins. Composers are Aaron Cope-, 
land, Louis. Gruehberg, • Howard 
Hanson, Roy Harris, Walter Piston, 
William Grant Sill. To be given 
air premiers by CBS some time after 
June 1. 

• A. G. Andrews, of *Love from a 
Stranger,' celebrated the 75th anni- 
versary of his stage debut Monday; 
He began when he was only four in 
'Masks and Faces' with Fanny Ster- 
ling..: • 

Radio, manufacturers now building 
sqts for farm tractors. Companies 
planning to broadcast 'Coming 
Through the Rye.' 

Second half of the Phila symp 
broadcast last Sunday with Stokow- 
ski shaking the stick and John Mc- 
Cormack as . soloist. Erno Rapee 
batoned .the first half. 

Danbury (Conn.') fair on this week. 
One of the most elaborate in the 
east. s . -. ■ " 

In spite of a boasted political pull, 
Michael Schuster, local- dance band 
director, took five days in the bastile 
for starting • something he couldn't 
finish in a saloon. 

.England's Lord Chamberlain has 
okayed a. modified script of -'Idiot's 
Delight,' and Lunt and Fontanne will 
play it in London. 

Officials of General Motors, Ford, 
Chrysler and. Standard Oil to 'take a 
stag ride on the Hindenberg next 
Friday. Combined fortunes will rep- 
resent about $50,000,000,000. 

Guggenheim Foundation slips $20,- 
000 'to "Clark University' to permit 
continuance of work on rocket ships. 

Speculators in warehouse whiskey 
receipts warned to' go careful. Re- 
serve stocks are piling up and no 
'danger -of any shortage. - Buyers 
liable to get stuck. 

Federal men find biggest ever 
marihuana farm on outskirts of Bal- 
timore. ' Could - be . worked . into 
41,000,000 -worth of cigarettes at re- 
tail prices. 

National Committee on Education 
by Radio visited Federal. Communi- 
cations yesterday (Tuesday) to de- 
mand that more time be given the 
educational angle by broadcasters. S. 
Howard' Evans accused the commis- 
sion 'of bias. 

Cafe owners told to hereafter con- 
spicuously post notice of all extra 
charges on pain of losing license. Re- 
sult of the recent French Casino case. 

Adelaide Gloria, dancer, in court 
Monday to press her three-year-old 
suit against Francis X. Xiques for 
alleged assault. Her mother raised 
such an outcry court was adjourned. 
She claims he never came across 
with a promised $5,000. ' 

Two scribes on their way from 
Denmark to cover Carl Brisson's 
debut in .'Forbidden Melody.' Home 
town boy. 



Coast 



Divorce granted Mrs. Irene Flor- 
ence Curtis, mother of Helen and 
Maryon Curtis, screen actresses, in 
L. A. from Edward C. Curtis. 

Although -attendance ax boxing 
and wrestling matches dropped from 
323,127 to 307,758 during August, 
California Athletic Commission an- 
nounced 20% increase in taxes due 
to higher admissions. 

Irene Taylor, torch singer, was 
saved from drowning by Richard 
Wheeler in Santa Monica.. 

L. A. court sentenced Frank T. 
Showdaw to 18 months in prison for 
sending obscene letters to Madelyn 
Fields, Carole Lombard's secretary. 

Suit for divorce in L. A. by Mrs. 
Blanche McDonald, formerly 'Miss 
California,' against William C. Her- 
man, gas station attendant. ' 

Suit for ,$250,000 damages filed in 
L. A. by Cara Aldini, opera singer, 
against manufacturers of wave lotion 
which' she claims ruined her hair. 
. Mrs. Lionel Atwill's suit against 



life insurance company for $10,000 
was removed from L. A. court rec- 
ords. Wife of .actor claimed com- 
pany f ailed. io pay after, her Malibu 
house burned down. Company al- 
leged Atwill took policy While brush 
fire' was raging in - Malibu district 
without company's knowledge. 
/ Petition filed in L- A. court by 
Carole Lombard to have .her name 
legalized from Jane Peters. Court 
granted . Bob Burns' request to 
change from- Robin Burn. 

After securing divorce in L. A. 
from Hugh Buckler, screen -actor; 
Violet Buckner. appeared in court 
and asked jump in alimony., from 
$65 to $100 weekly. ■ - . 

Son of Gene Stratton Porter taken 
for .$1,250 by sharper, he reported 
to L. A. police. Man interested him 
in -finance business by flashing wad 
of -fake bills and scrammed.' 

Hollywood police arrested Earl K. 
Smith, composer of 'Down' by ' the 
Old Mill Stream/ for drunk driving. 

Harry- O. Jones, -assistant motion 
picture director, filed divorce suit 
against Ninette, Faro, actress, in' LA. 

Suit, seeking $10,000 damages from 
Elaine Barrie, instituted in L.A. by 
Herbert -.Seerman, 15, .allegedly in* 
jured- when nn- auto -driven 1 by Miss 
Barrie's chauffeur was in collision 
with that in -which the lad was 
riding. 

John BarrynjOre's suit against 
Henry Hotchener and Emmet D. 
Camomile, actor's former .business 
managers, wiped, from LA, court 
records, along with. Camomile's, and- 
Hotchener's counter suit by a settle- 
ment out of court. Barrymore 
claimed former aides were with- 
holding $100,000- in securities and 
private documents. ., 

L. A. court fight for custody of her 
two children won by Dixie Mason, 
radio warbler. Her former husband, 
Lay ton Waterman, claimed she was 
unfit. 

Divorce granted to Mrs. Martha 
Somerville,' wife of Slim Summer- 
ville, in. L.A. • She also was granted 
$100 monthly alimony and custody 
of son, four. 

. Divorce . granted Mrs. Elda Vokel 
Keighley, wife of William Keighley, 
screen director. She will receive 
$45,000 in monthly payments. • '. 



Refugees 9 Agcy 



(Continued from page 1) , 

tried very frequently before because 
platters are cheap, and a lot of -them' 
can ; be obtained • cuffo ' from Ger- 
many -by merely requesting them; 
and local Yprkville (German sec-, 
tion) gramaphone shops loan them 
out gratis for .occasional reciprocal 
plugs. Germania refugee group is. 
"banking on meeting this situation 
with reasonably priced live talent,' 
sold directly to sponsor or agency, 
and not to the station. Cost td Alka- 
Seltzer for its series — a daily 15- 
minute musical stint — comes to about 
$150 per week. . 

- Talent roster includes '. Charlie 
Brock, comedian from the Metrbpol 
(Berlin) ; Elsa Br'aun, soprano, from 
the Liebig (Breslau); Heinz Heller, 
bass • baritone,, from ' the Staat The- 
atre '(Mannheim); Johannes Trunk, • 
pianist; and -Leo Kuscher, one-time 
orchestra leader for UFA. ' 



Blase Times 



(Continued from page 1) 



to start on Sept. 30. Times itself 
withheld the announcement, how- 
ever, figuring on a Sunday splash 
on Sept. 27. But the World-Tele- 
gram, on noting the preliminary an- 
nouncement and release, decided, to 
count itself in, assigned H. R. Ekins 
and splashed it on Sept. 26, beating 
the Times on the 'announcement by 
a full day on the Times' own story. 

World-Telegram's instructions to 
Ekihs are to try to beat Kieran into ■ 
New York, and it has called the 
thing a race from the first. On that 
premise, the Hearst papers, via the 
N. Y. Journal, jumped in, assigning 
Dorothy Kilgallen to race it out with 
the two men. This decision was 
made day before the start of the 
trip, which had to be the same day 
due to necessity of using, the Zeppe- 
lin for the hop-off. 

But the Times is stting back on its 
dignity as regards a race. Wants its 
man in first 1 , if possible,, on the origi- 
nal premise, but the Times, without 
saying anything in so many words, 
isn't playing . games with its compe- 
tition. None of its. stories have 
mentioned the other two racers, 
though both other papers constantly 
refer to all three reporters: 

Times' reporter's yarn envisions 
a globe-girdling tourist service much 
as . the. current sea cruises, in the 
near future. . , '. . 



Wednesday, October 7, 1936 



TDOORI 



VARIETY 



63 



Utah Salt Flats Oust Daytona 
As Worlds Auto Testing Ground 



Salt Lake City, Oct. 6. 

' Assault on' world land speed 

^.records on Btonneyille salt fiats is 

' UtahV newest big business. 

Automotive engineers and drivers 
throughout the world have their 

• eyes glued on this desert speedway 
130 miles west of . Salt Lake City. 

Since the measured mile record of 
301 m.p.h. set here last year by Sir 
Malcolm Campbell, dare-devil speed- 
sters have made the course" interna- 
tionally known. 

During the past month John Cobb, 
stubby, race-loving English fur 
broker whizzed his snub-nosed racer 
|o : 4r dozen ' new 24-hour motorcar 
records.- Last week; Utah's own Ab 
Jenkins in his 700-horsepbwer Due- 
senberg special," recaptured the Eng- 
lish records^ ' 

itSS a known fact that the. British, 
Italian .and,. German governments, 
unaware: of the imminence of war, 

. are • • secretly: / constructing super- 
autos to establish new records. And 
they're all sold on the Utah racing 

"'ofjurse^ v ■ 

i Daytona beach, long considered as 
the ideal racing course, has lost its 
laurel's. Florida site is much more 
hazardous and requires much' more, 
skill than the Utah salt flats.. As 
far as concrete highways are con- 
sidered, they haven't a chance com- 
pared to the .salt grounds. Tires 
would- simply go to pieces at terrific 
speed on concrete. 

Sir' Malcolm, in recent dispatches, 
said If he wanted to he could make 
a few changes on his Bluebird and 
lift His record to 350 or more.m.p.hi 
That ..is,, if.' he wanted to. 

Alb.. Jenkins and his relief driver, 1 
Babe Stapp, drove 7;134.082 miles in 
their. 48-hour grind. Three months 
ago, the fastest- man' had traveled by 
auto for 48 hours was 109.04 miles ah 
hour. A month later English Cap- 
tain George Eyston averaged 134.34 
miles an hour. Jenkins' mark was 
148.62 miles, per hour 
' It costs about $2,500 to obtain of- 
ficial A. A. A. timing service. Tele- 
graph companies have established 
agencies near site to feed news- 
papers all over the world with news 
of events. KSL,^50,000-watt CBS- 
affiliate at Salt Lake has its mobile 
short-wave station anchored on track 
during' a run. A flock of rooming 
houses, cafes, bars and shop, sub- 
sequently have sprung up due to the 
salt flats "racing activity. 

Circus Managers Meet 

Berlin, Sept. 27. 
'Invitations' were sent out by the 
Reichsfachschaft Artistik to. all the 
German circus managers for a 
round-table conference. Discussion 
centered aroimd next season's tours 
to avoid clashes in those districts 
that are mostly favored, such as 
Bavaria, the Palatinate and East 
Prussia. 

It developed that the Berlin Cir- 
cus Busclv. owned by Paula' Busch 
and in reality the former Circus 
Strassburger, will "be transferred to 
Vienna, where Paula still owns a 
permanent stone building. Her local 
house, not beingjised, will be razed 
shortly. Another" German circus, 
Carl Hagenbeck,- goes in November 
for an extensive tour abroad, start- 
ing in South America and making 
Plans to return to Japan where 
Hagenbeck cashed in' two years ago. 




Acrobat Hurt 



Trenton, N. J., Oct. 6. 

Jerry Martin, doing a trapeze act 
at the Trenton State Pair, fell "75 
jeet to the ground when a guy rope 
Moke Oct. 3, striking his back on a 
figging stake. Is in a local hospital 
"\5 ttitical condition. 

Martin lives in New Rochelle. 

R- B:-B. & B. Rainout 

Dallas, Oct. 6. 
Heavy rains kept- Ringling Bros, 
and Barnum-Bailey circus from fill- 
ing its two-day engagement here 
&ept 27 and 28. Ground was too 
wet te hold the stakes. 



(Continued from page 1) 



national influences, one of which is 
analyzed to be a reaction against 
radio (but to a modest degree) and 
the other is more concretely a reflex 
from repeal of the National Prohibi- 
tion Amendment. With the k.o. of 
Volsteadism, every crossroads inn 
became an oasis for a glass of beer 
and the stronger stuff. This soon 
brought in the coin operated phono- 
graphs. Wurlitzer, Mills Novelty 
Co., Automatic Musical Industries 
(AMI) and Rokk-Ola are four of the 
most successful venders of canned 
music which owe their current boom 
business directly to the veering 
away from Volsteadism. 

Every jerkwater filling station, 
candy store, blerstube, roadhouse, , 
dance nail, minor nitery, and the 
like, has automatic music of one 
form or another. The live show cost 
is an obvious hurdle and an impos- 
sibility under ' the hinterland eco- 
nomic restrictions. But music is 
n